Safran, September 15, 2023 - Toulouse, France - Safran Electrical & Power, the world leader in electric aircraft systems, has signed a collaboration agreement with Cuberg, a subsidiary of the battery manufacturer Northvolt, for industrial, technical and commercial cooperation to develop jointly an aviation energy storage system for future full electric and hybrid aircraft.
Safran Electrical & Power and Cuberg will combine their complementary technologies and expertise to create a high performance propulsive energy storage system for future generations of aircraft. Cuberg, a vertically integrated battery provider, will manufacture and supply rechargeable aviation battery systems based on Cuberg’s lithium metal cells, modules, and packs while Safran Electrical & Power will design and develop global energy storage systems, including high voltage protection components, integration, certification and in-service support.
Cuberg battery systems are built on the configurable Cuberg module, which has been internally validated to achieve a specific energy of 280 Wh/kg and an energy density of 320 Wh/L. This specific energy is up to 40% higher than comparable modules based on lithium-ion technology. This significant improvement provides increased flight range which, in turn, enables new use cases for electric and hybrid aviation. Cuberg modules are purpose-built to manage the mechanical, thermal, and electrical integration of next-generation battery cells.
The Cuberg module incorporates Cuberg’s 20 Ampere-hour lithium metal cell technology. This technology uses a lithium metal anode and proprietary liquid electrolyte to simultaneously solve the interlocking challenges of high-performance cell design and manufacturability.
Bruno Bellanger, Vice President & General Manager of Power division, Safran Electrical & Power said “We are excited to team with Cuberg as they propose unrivaled disruptive battery cell technologies associated with a best-in-class industrialization process strongly supported by Northvolt. Their unique technology, combined with our expertise in aircraft electrical systems, will enable cutting-edge energy storage systems for future platforms."
Richard Wang, Cuberg CEO and Founder said “This partnership with Safran Electrical & Power will help both companies provide certifiable integrated battery systems to aviation customers around the world, and we are thrilled to be working with such an elite and respected provider of aviation products. “Cuberg has built the world’s most established high-performance aviation battery systems program, and this agreement is a welcome endorsement of our technology, our people, and our vision for the future of flight.”
About Safran : Safran Electrical & Power is one of the world's leaders in aircraft electrical systems. The company is a key player in equipment electrification and in the electric and hybrid propulsion sector. It has 11,500 employees across 13 different countries.
Safran is an international high-technology group, operating in the aviation (propulsion, equipment and interiors), defense and space markets. Its core purpose is to contribute to a safer, more sustainable world, where air transport is more environmentally friendly, comfortable and accessible. Safran has a global presence, with 83 000 employees and sales of 19.0 billion euros in 2022, and holds, alone or in partnership, world or regional leadership positions in its core markets.
About Cuberg : Cuberg, a part of the Northvolt Group, develops high-performance energy solutions for the world's most demanding battery applications. Founded in 2015 to bring its next-generation lithium-metal cell technology to the market, Cuberg was acquired by Northvolt in 2021 to scale up this innovation. Cuberg is located in San Leandro, California, United States.
Safran Electrical & Power and Cuberg will combine their complementary technologies and expertise to create a high performance propulsive energy storage system for future generations of aircraft. Cuberg, a vertically integrated battery provider, will manufacture and supply rechargeable aviation battery systems based on Cuberg’s lithium metal cells, modules, and packs while Safran Electrical & Power will design and develop global energy storage systems, including high voltage protection components, integration, certification and in-service support.
Cuberg battery systems are built on the configurable Cuberg module, which has been internally validated to achieve a specific energy of 280 Wh/kg and an energy density of 320 Wh/L. This specific energy is up to 40% higher than comparable modules based on lithium-ion technology. This significant improvement provides increased flight range which, in turn, enables new use cases for electric and hybrid aviation. Cuberg modules are purpose-built to manage the mechanical, thermal, and electrical integration of next-generation battery cells.
The Cuberg module incorporates Cuberg’s 20 Ampere-hour lithium metal cell technology. This technology uses a lithium metal anode and proprietary liquid electrolyte to simultaneously solve the interlocking challenges of high-performance cell design and manufacturability.
Bruno Bellanger, Vice President & General Manager of Power division, Safran Electrical & Power said “We are excited to team with Cuberg as they propose unrivaled disruptive battery cell technologies associated with a best-in-class industrialization process strongly supported by Northvolt. Their unique technology, combined with our expertise in aircraft electrical systems, will enable cutting-edge energy storage systems for future platforms."
Richard Wang, Cuberg CEO and Founder said “This partnership with Safran Electrical & Power will help both companies provide certifiable integrated battery systems to aviation customers around the world, and we are thrilled to be working with such an elite and respected provider of aviation products. “Cuberg has built the world’s most established high-performance aviation battery systems program, and this agreement is a welcome endorsement of our technology, our people, and our vision for the future of flight.”
About Safran : Safran Electrical & Power is one of the world's leaders in aircraft electrical systems. The company is a key player in equipment electrification and in the electric and hybrid propulsion sector. It has 11,500 employees across 13 different countries.
Safran is an international high-technology group, operating in the aviation (propulsion, equipment and interiors), defense and space markets. Its core purpose is to contribute to a safer, more sustainable world, where air transport is more environmentally friendly, comfortable and accessible. Safran has a global presence, with 83 000 employees and sales of 19.0 billion euros in 2022, and holds, alone or in partnership, world or regional leadership positions in its core markets.
About Cuberg : Cuberg, a part of the Northvolt Group, develops high-performance energy solutions for the world's most demanding battery applications. Founded in 2015 to bring its next-generation lithium-metal cell technology to the market, Cuberg was acquired by Northvolt in 2021 to scale up this innovation. Cuberg is located in San Leandro, California, United States.
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