alabc

The Advanced Lead Acid Battery Consortium (ALABC) is seeking participants for a $300,000 US Department of Energy (DOE) funded lead carbon battery research programme.

The programme, which was unveiled at an ALABC meeting during the 14th European Lead Acid Battery Conference in Edinburgh, will include six lead carbon batteries to be tested in 12V stop-start automotive applications. The DOE is expected to put up $150,000 for the one-year research programme, slated to commence in early 2015, with the six participants stumping up $25,000 match funding apiece.

The ALABC, jointly with Controlled Power Technologies, has received an award for its LC Super Hybrid technology. The UK’s Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership presented the award at a ceremony in London for the category ‘Low Carbon Innovation by a small medium sized enterprise.’

The awards, supported by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, recognise innovative projects that promote the rise in lower carbon vehicles and reducing transport emissions.

The LC Super Hybrid programme is a joint initiative between ALABC and CPT to demonstrate the capabilities of available technologies to promote affordable low carbon vehicles. The collaboration promotes how CO₂ can be reduced through electric hybridisation at low voltages using lead-carbon batteries.

Allan Cooper with Nick Pascoe

“This award is very timely as it will help raise awareness of the advanced work we’re doing with micro-mild hybrid vehicles,” commented Nick Pascoe Chief Executive of CPT. Allan Cooper of the ALABC said they and CPT are delighted to have received the award.

The LC Super Hybrid 12V vehicle has been demonstrated to great success, a 48V version is due to be ready this year to provide torque assist to the engine for launch and acceleration, optimise fuelling during cruise conditions, and harvest kinetic energy during braking.

LC Super Hybrid features an electric supercharger and start-stop technology
developed by CPT along with an advanced lead-carbon battery.