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Ford and Samsung Teaming to Eliminate Lead-Acid Batteries

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Ford and Samsung SDIFord and Samsung SDI are teaming up to change batteries for the better; they have announced that they are collaborating on dual-battery system research that will combine lithium-ion and lead-acid batteries in order to achieve better fuel economy and enable regenerative braking in non-hybrid vehicles.

“We are currently expanding our Auto Start-Stop technology across 70 percent of our lineup, and this dual-battery system has the potential to bring even more levels of hybridization to our vehicles for greater energy savings across the board,” said Ted Miller, senior manager, Energy Storage Strategy and Research, Ford Motor Company. “Although still in research, this type of battery could provide a near-term solution for greater reduction of carbon dioxide.”

Ford and Samsung SDIFurther, Ford and Samsung SDI are looking into an ultra-lightweight lithium-ion battery that they hope will one day make the lead-acid batteries we’ve used for decades a thing of the past.

Lithium-ion batteries, which are used in EVs and plug-in hybrids such as the Focus Electric and the C-Max Energi, are between 25 and 30 percent smaller than previously-used nickel-metal-hydride batteries and allow for three times greater generation of power.

The ultra-lightweight lithium-ion battery will be 12 pounds lighter than a standard lithium-ion battery. The Ford and Samsung battery collaboration was announcedi n conjunction with the Ford Lightweight Concept vehicle, which also utilizes a number of light-weighting techniques to improve vehicle efficiency. Ford Lightweight Concept

The tandem of Ford and Samsung SDI are looking for ways to ensure that the future of automobiles and their batteries are cleaner, lighter, and more efficient than ever. By continuing to develop new solutions like the dual-battery system and the ultra-lightweight lithium-ion battery, the future might be closer than we think.