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The international automotive supplier Continental will launch first-time volume production of a high-performance lithium-ion battery for hybrid vehicles at the end of the present year. It will be used in the Mercedes S 400 BlueHYBRID. “This marks an important breakthrough for Continental as supplier of battery systems. In the next few years we will be launching production of further lithium-ion energy storage devices for mild- and full-hybrid and electric-powered vehicles,” says Continental Executive Board member Dr. Karl-Thomas Neumann.
“Lithium-ion technology is viewed as the key to the success of the hybrid and electric drive systems in motor vehicles. Lithium-ion batteries have a higher energy density, and thus a wider range, than those based on conventional nickel metal hybrid technology. The power output of the battery determines the overall performance of the vehicle as well as the potential for lower emissions and for possible fuel savings. In so far it also has a significant role to play in reducing CO2," explains Dieter Rogge, head of Continental's Powertrain division, which has developed and will supply ultramodern and innovative technology.
Aside from the lithium-ion battery, Continental also supplies the inverter and the DC/DC converter for the Mercedes S 400 BlueHYBRID. The inverter controls the flow of energy between the electric motor and the hybrid battery. The DC/DC converter is the link between the hybrid battery and the vehicle’s standard electric system and thus makes possible the elimination of the conventional generator.
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