Large lithium ion batteries for aerospace and aircraft applications

Eagle-Picher Energy Products (EPEP) has been manufacturing and testing large lithium ion cells (up to 100 Ah) for several years. Work has focused on testing of different chemistries at variable temperatures and designing and fabricating 100 Ah cylindrical cells. For the aircraft application the largest concern is irreversible capacity loss at elevated temperatures (70°C). In contrast, for the aerospace application shelf-life and cycle life is critical. EPEP has found that the major contributor to the loss in low temperature performance due to high temperature testing, was the positive electrode. The authors discuss results of variable temperature cycling and 100 Ah cell performance