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The “Fludis” boat equipped with PowerRack batteries

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Inaugurated in September 2019, the Fludis boat is equipped with PowerTech’s PowerRack Lithium battery system, allowing it to sail 100% electrically in the centre of Paris.

This sustainable urban logistics project is a solution to the difficulties encountered by urban freight transport operators, by offering a warehouse boat capable of handling the stages of route preparation, hosting logistics teams, as well as transporting the bicycle-cargoes used for the last kilometer.

Thanks to the rational use of this “warehouse vessel”, and its independence from loading / unloading infrastructures on the quayside, and the dimensions compatible with the canals, the system can be adapted to each agglomeration crossed by a navigable waterway.

The Fludis boat has been designed to have the lowest possible environmental impact: 100% electric propulsion with batteries. The boat also has a generator onboard to extand the range and to remain autonomous where grid is not available. At the port of Gennevilliers, it can be connected to electricity at the quayside. Consumption is estimated at 70 litres of off-road diesel per day for the trip between Gennevilliers and Paris.

The firm IKEA will benefit from this new type of boat. The Swedish company had opened a depot in February in the port of Gennevilliers to get closer to the capital. Cargo bicycles, which can carry up to 250 kg, will deliver to customers in the central districts (from the 1st to the 7th arrondissements). “30% of orders can be processed,” Ikea explains.

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New high-performance lithium LiFePO4 cells

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Lithium Iron Phosphate - LFP - LiFePO4-cell

After more than a year of intensive testing, we are now using a new high-performance lithium LiFePO4 cells to replace the cells used in our products.

This new generation of cell retains all the safety and robustness of those used in our products to date and adds two major improvements:

  • Specific Energy improved by 25% : It is possible to accommodate 1/4 more energy in the same volume.
  • Improved operation life by 50% : Cycling tests performed show a performance of 3000 cycles of full charge-discharge cycles (100% depth of discharge) at 1C. This represents a 50% increase in the number of cycles compared to the previous generation.
    At a DoD of 80% at 1C, the number of cycles performed rises to 4500.

Below chart shows the estimated number of cycles for our new generation of Lithium LiFePO4 cells, according to the discharge power and DOD figures. The test conditions are those of a laboratory (constant temperature of 25°C, constant charge and discharge power).

Lithium Iron Phosphate Life Cycle
Life Cycle chart of new LiFePO4 cell generation

We can read from the chart the below figures :

  • 3 000 cycles at 100% DoD @ 1C
  • 4 500 cycles at 80% DoD @ 1C
  • 10 000 cycles at 60% DoD @ 1C
  • etc.

It should be noted that following the number of completed cycles, the cell still have a nominal capacity > 80% of the original capacity.

Our main product ranges: PowerBrick, PowerRack and PowerModule, will benefit in the coming months from this new generation of cells with an increase in capacity, a reduction in weight but also a significantly improved lifespan.

Stay tuned for more information

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PowerRack and PowerBrick batteries now compatible with STUDER INNOTEC inverters

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PowerModule STUDER inverters
Off-Grid site of Refuge de l’Aigle, Parc des Ecrins, France

The PowerRack® and PowerBrick® battery ranges are now compatible with STUDER INNOTEC inverters..

The famous Swiss manufacturer of inverters for self-consumption and off-grid applications has confirmed the full compatibility between their inverters in the following range :

The PowerRack® range ensures compatibility with direct communication via the Xcom-CAN system for full battery control by the inverter.

The PowerBrick® range is compatible without the need for communication with the inverter. PowerBrick are then installed in the same way as AGM lead-acid batteries or other batteries. This installation method is faster and does not require additional cables or systems to operate.

We are delighted to work with Studer Innotec, a company that has been producing high quality energy converters for many years. Unlike other manufacturers, Studer Innotec controls the entire design of its products, which is a guarantee of reliability and an assurance of product durability.

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High precision Coulomb Counter to monitor battery SoC

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Coulomb counter CC75 CC150 CC500

MyLithiumBattery extends its range of accessories with new charge indicators, including the CC75, CC150, CC500 coulomb counter

Poissy, May 29, 2018

High accuracy measurements of voltage (V), capacity (Ah), power (W) and battery energy

CC75, CC150, CC500 Coulomb Counters from MyLithiumBattery.com allow the user to obtain a state of charge in % (SoC – State Of Charge), and a precise depth of discharge (DoD) of the battery. They also calculate, in real time, the time remaining before the battery is completely empty.

PowerBrick-Pro-48V-25Ah–with-coulomb-counterPowerBrick-Pro-48V-25Ah–with-coulomb-counter
Coulomb-Counter-C150-shuntCoulomb-Counter-C150-shunt
Coulomb-Counter-C150-shunt-resistorCoulomb-Counter-C150-shunt-resistor

The CC 75/150/500 are suitable for batteries with an operating voltage from 8V to 80V DC.
There are 3 versions :

  • CC75 measuring from 0 to 75A, compatible with M6 terminals
  • CC150 measuring from 0 to 150A, compatible with M8 terminals
  • CC500 measuring from 0 to 500A, compatible with M10 terminals

For applications using batteries, the situation is often critical if users are suddenly without energy (for example electric bicycles, security cameras, alarms, IoT, on-board sensors…).
In these cases, the accuracy of a Coulomb Counter for batteries State of Charge measurement is a “must have”.

Rely on CC75, CC150, CC500 coulombs counters

Simply measuring a voltage at the terminals of a battery is not enough to know its precise state of charge (SoC).

With our CC75/150/500, the advantage is real and allows precise counting of coulombs to determine their state of charge, as well as a measurement of the battery voltage and the instantaneous current used. This information is used to monitor the charge status of the system with battery.

Coulomb Counter allows accurate SoC nformation that can be communicated onto a bus network (CAN, TTL232, RS232).

Once the counter is initialized, it counts the coulombs used for a discharge, and those generated by a charger in order to take partial charges into account.

This principle has the advantage of being compatible with all battery technologies (lithium-iron-phosphate (LiFePO4), lithium-ion, Li-Polymer, lead-acid and nickel-metal hybrid batteries…).

To learn more about:
High precision CC75/150/500 coulombs counter

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PowerTech Systems is now part of French Tech

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PowerTech Systems joins French Tech community

Poissy, April 17, 2018

The French manufacturer PowerTech Systems, specialized in the design of Lithium-Ion energy storage systems, integrates the “French Tech” movement, the ecosystem of French start-ups in France and internationally.

French Tech” refers to all those who work in or for French start-ups in France or abroad. Convinced that it is necessary to encourage the emergence of successful start-ups in France to generate innovation, economic value and new jobs, the Government created this initiative in 2013.

The principle is simple: to rely on the initiatives of the French Tech members themselves, to enhance what already exists, to make the brand grow and evolve.

In turn, PowerTech Systems is committed to participating in this collective initiative. PowerTech Systems now carries high, a common standard for both French Tech members and the state that supports innovative companies.

The French Tech value is to be built collectively with all French actors (public actors, media, general public, large groups, research institutes, associations, etc…).

We are very proud to participate in this initiative, which highlights the innovation, technicality and expertise of our technicians and engineers on our territory. Joining this movement is also a way for us to highlight the quality of our scientific and technical training, as well as the enthusiasm of our employees to constantly innovate.

Cyril Bergeaud, Founder and CEO