Webasto recently exhibited elements of a new modular battery system, thermal management and charging solutions in Ford Motor Co.’s booth at the 2019 SEMA Show in Las Vegas. Webasto won Ford’s 2019 Best of Show Stand Award for Outstanding Achievement in Design for Mustang Lithium, a one-off battery electric prototype with 1,000-foot-pounds of torque and more than 900 horsepower.
“Webasto first entered the electric vehicle market in 2014 with the high voltage heater, as part of its strategic plan to serve its OEM customers as they moved more decisively into the e-mobility space,” said Mark Denny, president and CEO of Webasto Customized Solutions in North America. “Our expansion into battery systems, battery testing equipment, thermal management and charging systems means that both small and large manufacturers now have a respected supplier with decades of experience working within the complex vehicle manufacturing environment, as well as with dealers across North America, Europe and China.”
The Webasto CV standard battery system is designed for total scalability and configuration flexibility, according to the company. Each battery pack has 35 kilowatt-hours of energy and up to 10 packs can be used for a combined 350 kilowatt-hours. With 400- and 800-volt versions available, the system can be configured via the vehicle interface box, which is the master battery management system and power distribution unit.
Within the battery pack, the self-contained modules also include desiccant cartridges that reduce condensation, integrated thermal runaway detection sensors and pressure equalization monitors for added safety. The battery pack format is compact and energy dense.
Webasto’s commercial vehicle standard battery system is available in North America.
Webasto offers both off-the-shelf solutions for the commercial vehicle standard battery and custom developments for OEM projects.