Zeus’ride powered by PowerModule at Paris 2024 Olympics

Zeus'ride powered by PowerModule
A symbol of resilience, peace, solidarity and unity. The “horse” that rode through Paris on the occasion of the opening ceremony embodies the values at the heart of the partnership between PowerTech Systems, Atelier BLAM, MM Process, Transfluid and Paris 2024.

As well as being a powerful symbol, Zeus ride is also the result of the know-how and spirit of scientific and artistic innovation of a group of French companies.

The prototype is powered by a 130kW 384V motor, assembled inside the hull.

In addition to this, the central hull contains most of the electrical components, including energy storage:
-16 x PowerModule 48V (86kWh) propulsion batteries, batteries certified by Bureau Veritas ESTRIN
-1 x PowerBrick 48V-105Ah battery for the horse mechanism (5.37kWh)
-1 x PowerBrick 24V-50Ah battery for control and lighting (1.2kWh).

Zeus ride is a true technical challenge and a scene forever engraved in the eyes of the whole world. This is undoubtedly one of the most memorable creations of the Olympic Games Opening Ceremony.

Arkema 4: PowerTech Embeds Kynar® Technology in its battery cells

PowerTech and Kynar Technology
PowerTech and Kynar Technology

Designed for ocean racing, the trimaran Arkema 4 was launched in September to begin its first trials.

For this new competition trimaran, PowerTech developed very specific servitude batteries, using fluoropolymer separator films in Kynar® technology from the company Arkema.

This new material has very high resistance characteristics, with an extremely low film thickness. The result is the development of even safer battery cells with a 4% reduction in weight.

This battery powers the vital equipment of the racing boat. It is recharged via solar panels.

Click here for more information

New PowerBrick® version with new generation cell

Our PowerBrick® product range is expanding with 4 new versions using our new generation LiFePO4 lithium cells.

As a reminder, all our products now use the new generation cell which ensures a better service life (3000 cycles at 100% DoD at 1C, 4500 cycles at 80% DoD at 1C) and an increased energy density of +25%.

The PowerBrick 12V-30Ah makes its entry using the PowerBrick 12V-20Ah enclosure, i. e. an energy density increased by +50% in the same enclosure
The PowerBrick 12V-45Ah complements the 12V-40Ah version by using the same box (+12.5% more energy)
PowerBrick 12V-70Ah uses the same housing as the PowerBrick 12V-55Ah (+27% more energy)
Ditto for the PowerBrick 48V-72Ah which takes over the case of the 48V-61Ah version (+18% more capacity)

All previous ranges are preserved, and all now equipped with our new generation cell.

New high-performance lithium LiFePO4 cells

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

Lithium batteries for the mini transat “La Boulangère”

Mini-Transat “La Boulangère” is a long course of 4050 nautical miles alone, on the smallest offshore racing boats, only 6.50m long, will be done in two stages. The first, departing from La Rochelle on September 22nd 2019, will go to Las Palmas de Gran Canaria located in the Canary Islands. The second of 2700 miles will last around two weeks for the fastest until the final finish in Le Marin en Martinique from mid-November.

For this 2019 vintage, we are accompanying skipper Bastian Oger in his race. Bastian reqyestedus to equip him with PowerBrick batteries because he wanted to save several tens of kilos on board. For the race, every gram counts and a few tens of kilos can make a big advantage.
So we equipped the boat with two PowerBrick 12v-100Ah (one main and one backup) to power all onboard instruments during the race. The service batteries will be recharged with solar panels.
The autonomy tests are very conclusive with twice capacity for roughly half weight. And Bastian is very happy and eager to start, so we are !

Here are some pictures of Bastian aboard his boat. We wish him good luck for the race.