Magna Steyr has earned the right to produce lithium-ion battery systems for the Volvo Group that will be integrated into Volvo’s city buses, heavy duty distribution vehicles and refuse trucks using the I-SAM parallel hybrid system.
Production of the systems is scheduled to begin in August this year and will incorporate A123Systems’ 32113 lithium-ion cells. Continued output from the I-SAM motor is 70kW (94hp) with 120kW (161hp) peak. Continuous torque is 200Nm with a 800Nm peak.
The contract cements Magna Steyr’s place as a leader in the development and deliverance of advanced technologies.
A123Systems meanwhile is developing a portfolio of prismatic automotive cells and continuing to refine its cylindrical cells. The 32113 power cell has a capacity of 3.8Ah, while a coming Gen-2 cell, which uses a higher power and lower-cost electrode design, will offer 4.4-4.6Ah of capacity and is scheduled for mass production in 2010.
According to Dr Peter Pichler, Magna Steyr’s battery pack portfolio comprises three main lines: energy battery packs targeted for the electric and plug-in vehicle market; power battery packs for full and mild hybrids; and heavy duty battery packs. The heavy duty line will be the first to enter series production.
