LG Chem in Troy, Proterra Co-Develop New Battery Cells for Heavy Duty Vehicles

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LG Chem, a chemical engineering company that operates its North American headquarters in Troy, has collaborated with Proterra, a Calif.-based innovator in heavy-duty electric transportation, on a battery cell optimized to meet the unique performance and safety demands of the heavy-duty vehicle market.

The cell chemistry underscores the growing market demand for high quality energy storage systems, as batteries for transportation are expected to surpass those for consumer electronics by next year.

Last year, Proterra introduced the Catalyst E2, the longest-range electric transit bus on the market, which is capable of traveling up to 350 miles on a single charge and meets the fully daily mileage needs of nearly every U.S. mass transit route.

For the program, LG Chem developed an advanced battery cell to meet Proterra’s standards in terms of performance and safety. The E2 battery packs represent the heavy-duty industry’s highest pack-level energy density. The pack utilizes light weight ballistic-grade materials to withstand tough conditions.

“Between Proterra’s demonstrated leadership in the heavy-duty electric vehicle industry, and the company’s battery expertise, Proterra has been a strong partner for LG Chem to co-develop a battery cell with for this important market,” says Youngsun Kim, LG Chem’s vice president of marketing.

Proterra’s ISO 26262 certified battery management system monitors cell temperature and voltage with more than 70 sensors capturing 160 different diagnostic data streams from each battery pack. Features like liquid cooling and proprietary state of charge algorithms enable long life, rapid charge times, and operation in virtually any climate.

Onboard vehicle telemetry also enables real-time monitoring and over-the-air updates to battery software so fleet operators can track battery performance and reap the benefits of continuous product improvement.

To increase access to its battery-electric buses, Proterra has also introduced an innovative battery-lease financing model that enables transit agencies to purchase electric buses at approximately the same price as fossil fuel-based alternatives.