Valence Technology, Inc.
Saphion® “Safety – Built In”
Alastair Johnston
EMEA Sales Director
Version: 15th November 2005
Corporate Overview
1989: Founded as a R&D company focused on Lithium-ion polymer technology
>600 issued and pending patents worldwide
2002: New management team from Dell, emphasis on Sales and Marketing
2003: Launched Saphion® Lithium-ion technology: First phosphate based battery
chemistry on the market
2003: Launched first N-Charge™ Power System: Consumer product showcasing
Saphion technology
2004: Launching K-Charge™ & U-Charge™ Power System: Large format energy
storage system.
2004: Move into the cell pack markets with the IFR 18650 and P545 cells.
2004: Set up Valence owned powder plant and pack assembly factory in China
2004: Set up EMEA Sales Office, in Mallusk, N.Ireland
2006: Q1 Launch of U Charge high volume production
2
Valence Locations & Partners
Advanced Labs, England
Advanced Battery Research
Employees: 4
Cell Pack Assembly Plant
Suzhou
Employees:130
Mallusk, N.Ireland
Sales, Engineering
Employees: 5
Henderson, Nevada
Battery Test
Employees: 20
Austin, Texas, HQ
Engineering, Sales
Employees: 45
Powder Plant
Suzhou
Employees: 50
System Engineering
Shanghai
Employees: 30
Battery OEM
China
Li-polymer cells
Cylindrical cells
Sinbon
N Charge pack assembly
3
®
Saphion Technology & Safety
The PO4 advantage
O
P
O
Coordination and
location determine
bond distance and
strength
Co
Tightly bound Oxygen
= safety
5
Relative bond energies
LCO
PO4
Raman Spectroscopy
stretching bands:
P-O : 1100 cm-1
Co-O (LCO): 540 cm-1
The P-O bond is stronger than the Co-O bond.
6
LiFePO4 vs. LiCoO2: DSC
LiCoO2 only
Whole cell
JES 146(9) Maleki et al. (Motorola): commercial LiCoO2/graphite cell charged to 4.2V
Li0.5CoO2
Co3O4
0.5LiCoO2 +1/6Co3O4 + 1/6O2
3CoO + ½ O2
LiCoO2: large exotherm onset
at 147°C results in cell safety
problem
LiFePO4 exotherm smaller
and onset at much higher
temperature
JES 148(3) Yamada et al.
7
Various Chemistries Reactivity
Intrinsic Safety of Cathode Materials
H e a t F lo w (J /g r )
1000
800
600
400
200
0
P1a
LMO
LCO
LNO
Theoretical basis for safety advantages of phosphates
8
Phosphate Safety
Comparison Video
http://www.valence.com/SafetyVideo.asp
Phosphate remains thermally stable under extreme abuse
Abuse Characterization Summary
Abuse Requirements
UL1642 Third Edition (april 26, 1995), latest ammendment Jun 24, 1999
Test
Description
Electrical Tests
section 10 short curcuit test
at room temp
connect terminals with wire <0.1mOhm
at 60C
connect terminals with wire <0.1mOhm
a
section 11a Abnormal Charge
3 times recommended charge rate for 48hr minimum
Mechanical Tests
section 12 crush
applied load of 13kN between flat plates
section 13 impact
drop 20lbs from 2 ft onto 5/8in diameter bar
section 14 shock
75G initial, 125-175G peak
section 15 vibration
ramp 10-55-10Hz in 90 minutes, 1.6mm excursion
Environmental Tests
section 18a heating (hot box)
ramp to 150C, hold for 10 minutes
section 18b temperature cycling
ramp temp between -40 and 70C, 10X
section 18c altitude simulation
6hrs at 11.6kPa
Abuse Characterization
Test
Nail Penetration
Round Bar Crush
Series/Parallel testing
3 parallel Nail penetration
4 series NP on during charge
Hot Box (extended)
additional failsafe testing
Description
JSBA standard
slow crush to deform cell to induce short
simulate proposed battery design
do safety devices in cell stop propagation
do safety devices in cell stop propagation
UL hot box with 150C hold
application test to fail
Saphion
LCO
Pass
Pass
Pass
Pass
Pass
Pass
Pass
Pass
Pass
Pass
Pass
Pass
Pass
Pass
Pass
Pass
Pass
Pass
Pass
Pass
Saphion
Pass
Pass
LCO
Fail
Fail
Pass
Pass
Pass
Fail
Fail
Fail
10
Round Bar Crush Test
Round Bar Crush Test - Oxide18650
Round Bar Crush Test - Phosphate18650
S/N 162153 - Temperature vs. Voltage
S/N 341387 - Temperature vs. Voltage
650
6.5
600
6
600
6
550
5.5
550
5.5
500
5
500
5
4.5
450
Cell Temp.
Voltage
400
4
350
3.5
300
3
250
2.5
200
2
150
100
0
5
10
Test Time (Minutes)
15
20
400
4
3.5
300
3
250
2.5
200
2
1.5
150
1.5
1
100
1
0
0
4.5
Cell Temp.
Voltage
350
0.5
50
Voltage
Temperature (°C)
450
Temperature (°C)
6.5
650
50
0.5
0
0
0
5
10
15
20
Test Time (Minutes)
11
Voltage
Cell vented with heavy sparks and heavy
smoke.
Overcharge Test
Overcharge Test - Oxide 18650
Overcharge Test - Phosphate 18650
(2 Cells in Parallel supply set to 3.6A, 5.0V)
650
600
6
5
500
450
4
400
350
3
300
250
2
200
150
1
100
50
0
0
0
10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 110 120
Test Time (Minutes)
Current (A)
Temperature (C)
550
Cell Temp.
Ambient Temp.
Voltage
Current
Cell insulated in styrofoam
to simulate battery
enclosure
8
7
6
5
Voltage (V)
700
800
750
700
650
600
550
500
450
400
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
0
4
3
2
1
0
10
20 30
40 50
60 70 80
0
90 100 110 120
Test Time (Minutes)
Excess Lithium in cobalt cells causes cell to continue to charge until “safety” device is activated. Despite this
activation, the cell goes into thermal runaway 15 minutes later, reaching 760C.
Saphion® cells have NO excess lithium. After fully charging, the cell quickly reaches the 5V setpoint and the
12
current tapers. The temperature reaches only 50C.
Current (A)
750
8
Cell insulated in
styrofoam to simulate
7
battery enclosure
Temperature (C)
Cell Temp.
Ambient Temp.
Voltage
Current
Voltage (V)
800
(2 Cells in parallel supply set to 3.6A, 5.0V)
Nail Penetration Test
Nail Pen Test - Phosphate 18650's
S/N 204040 - Temp. vs. Voltage, Current
S/N 341488 - Temp. vs. Voltage, Current
Nail penetrated cell
7.5
7
700
7
6.5
650
600
6
600
550
5.5
550
500
5
500
5
450
4.5
450
4.5
400
4
400
4
350
3.5
350
3.5
300
3
300
3
250
2.5
250
2.5
200
2
200
2
150
1.5
150
1.5
100
1
100
1
700
Temperature (C)
650
50
0.5
0
0
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
Test Time (Minutes)
16
18
20
Temperature (C)
750 Nail penetrated cell
Voltage (V)
7.5
3 cells in parallel with cells mounted side
by side numbered 1-3 from left to right.
Nail Pen cell #2.
6.5
3 cells in parallel with cells mounted side
by side numbered 1-3 from left to right.
Nail Pen cell #2.
6
5.5
0.5
50
0
0
0
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
Test Time (Minutes)
13
Voltage (V)
750
Nail Pen Test - Oxide 18650's
Products and Segments
Backup Power
KWh - MWh
Portable Power
50 – 300 Wh
OEMs and Pack Builders
Cells
Motive Power
500 – 85000 Wh
U-Charge
N-Charge
K-Charge
Watt Hours
15
N-Charge™ Power
System Family
A family of power sources to facilitate
complete mobility
Sleek polymer models for thin and light
notebooks
Modular and scaleable models for DTR and
mainstream notebooks
Lightweight and compact for ultimate
portability
Uses notebook PC adapter for recharging
Provides fast recharge and long cycle life
16
U-Charge™ Power System
A lightweight, high-energy alternative to conventional
lead acid batteries designed for wheelchairs,
scooters, ebikes and more…
High performance, intelligent, reliable batteries
Safe, environmentally friendly, Saphion® Lithium-ion technology
Low maintenance, long cycle life = Lower lifetime costs!
Twice the runtime and 1/3 less weight compared to Lead Acid
Fits easily into established 12V and 24V platforms
17
K-Charge™ Power System
Kilowatt to megawatts of energy storage for the utility,
network and vehicular markets
High performance, intelligent, reliable batteries
The safest Lithium-ion technology available
Flexible form factor
Less volume and lower weight
Fast recharge time, excellent cycle life
18
$
!
"% #
"#
19
Segway Pack Technical Data
Max Dimensions (l x w x h) mm
360 x 150 x 82
Weight
5.5 kgs
Cell Used
Valence Saphion IFR 18650e
Number of cells per pack
92
Pack Capacity
400 Wh
Continuous Current
16 Amps *
Peak Current
30 amps
20
* Rated value, however 30A continuous has been tested with no ill effects.