Proterra, the leading innovator in heavy-duty electric transportation, and LG Chem, a global leader in lithium-ion batteries for automotive, stationary and consumer applications, announced co-development of a battery cell that has been optimized to meet the unique performance and safety demands of the heavy-duty vehicle market.
The cell chemistry has been optimized for exceptional energy throughput capability, high charge rate acceptance, and industry leading energy density. This joint development underscores the growing market demand for high quality energy storage systems.
According to Lux Research, batteries for transportation and grid storage are expected to surpass consumer electronics by next year and electric buses are cited as a primary market driver for this growing battery segment. Proterra’s new Burlingame battery production facility is currently ramping production to meet demand and can produce over 500 MWh of E2 battery packs on an annual basis.
Last year, Proterra introduced the Catalyst E2, the longest-range electric transit bus on the market. Capable of traveling up to 350 miles on a single charge, the Catalyst E2 meets the full daily mileage needs of nearly every U.S. mass transit route. For this program, LG Chem has developed an advanced battery cell to meet Proterra’s highest standard in terms of performance and safety. The E2 battery packs represent the heavy-duty industry’s highest pack-level energy density at 160 Wh/kg and 260Wh/L. Made from lightweight ballistic-grade materials to withstand the toughest conditions, Proterra’s standard E2 pack was designed from the ground up with an emphasis on safety, durability and performance.
“Safety is paramount to our battery design philosophy,” said Dustin Grace, director of battery engineering at Proterra. “We have implemented redundant layers of passive and active safety features into the architecture of the battery in concert with the vehicle itself. Deploying energy storage systems of this scale has led us down a technology path to new and advanced safety features..”
Proterra’s E2 Battery Packs – Safer, Smarter and More Efficient
Proterra’s ISO 26262 certified battery management system monitors cell temperature and voltage with more than 70 sensors capturing 160 different diagnostic data streams from each battery pack. E2 packs are capable of interconnection in various series and parallel configurations, with various second life and heavy-duty applications in mind. Features like liquid cooling and proprietary state of charge algorithms enable long life, rapid charge times and operation in virtually any climate. Onboard vehicle telemetry enables real-time monitoring and over-the-air updates to battery software so fleet operators can track battery performance and reap the benefits of continuous product improvement.
Flexible Financing For Transit Agencies
To increase access to its battery-electric buses, Proterra has also introduced an innovative battery-lease financing model that enables transit agencies to purchase electric buses at approximately the same price than fossil fuel-based alternatives. Park City Transit was the first to utilize Proterra’s financing for six Catalyst buses that recently went into service. By taking responsibility for the performance of the batteries throughout the life of the lease, Proterra removes the operator risk, and ultimately enables more transit customers to make the transition to electric.
