LTC’s lithium-ion batteries target motor sports industry

Lithium Technology Corporation and Hybrid Racing AG have entered into an agreement to market specialised lithium-ion batteries to power advanced vehicles for the motor sports industry.

The applications will include batteries for cars, boats and planes to be used in consumer and professional racing vehicles.

On the development, Dr. Klaus Brandt, president and chief technical officer, LTC reiterated company’s belief that racing plays a significant role in pioneering the use of new technologies, such as lithium ion batteries. The company manufactures a range of cells with two different types of lithium ion chemistries, iron-phosphate and nickel-cobalt.

After the successful integration of the plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) Apollo/HHF Hybrid Concept car (HHCC) made by Gumpert and operated by Heinz-Harald Frentzen, President of Hybrid Racing AG and ex-Formula One (F1) racer and 1997 vice world champion, the parties concluded that there is an immediate need for LTC’s unique and innovative products in the advanced motor sports world.

The first race car utilising LTC's advanced lithium ion battery, the HHCC, uses a 3.3 liter V8 bi-turbo petrol mill with a 100kW electric motor. The 9kWh GAIA® battery is made of 90 high power 27Ah connected in series and weighs about 150 kilograms.

The battery includes an advanced battery management system (BMS) that transmits performance data via satellite for monitoring and enhanced performance control to the technical team. The battery is charged prior to races and recoups energy from braking during the race, as in PHEV mode. The electric range of the vehicle is approximately 50 kilometers.