Australian industrial battery company Switch Technologies has unveiled what it describes as the world’s first operational vehicle powered by Echion Technologies’ ultra-fast charging XNO technology.
Switch Technologies, a powerful battery and electric vehicle engineering services provider, has unveiled what it claims is the world’s first operational vehicle powered by British-based Echion Technologies’ proprietary ultra-fast charging XNO active anode material technology.
With XNO, lithium-ion batteries can be charged safely and quickly in less than 10 minutes, maintain high energy density even at extreme temperatures, and deliver high power over a lifespan of more than 10,000 cycles.
The material has been specifically developed to maximize productivity and minimize total cost of ownership for electrified heavy-duty vehicles, such as the Toyota Land Cruiser 79 Series, demonstrated at the Australian Automation and Robotics Precinct (AARP) in Perth, Australia.
The Land Cruiser has been converted to a plug-in hybrid configuration and is equipped with cells manufactured by Li-FUN, a cell development partner of XNO.
Echion Technologies said “powered by XNO” means lithium-ion batteries that can safely charge ultra-fast, maintain high energy density even at low temperatures, and deliver high power over a lifespan of more than 10,000 cycles.
Over a nine-month period, Switch Technologies developed new XNO battery modules and packs, along with modifications to the powertrain and control systems to hybridize the Land Cruiser. The company has now embarked on an extensive testing and validation program to further highlight the benefits that XNO anode materials bring to batteries used in heavy industry.
Switch Technologies CEO Jan Haak said whether it’s removing diesel particulate matter from people, reducing emissions in the vehicle fleet, or… improving performance of the existing machine, Switch is excited to scale this XNO-powered product to market.
“We are very pleased with the initial customer feedback as we have developed this machine to be supported and reliable in tough conditions, as expected of a typical off-road vehicle,” said Haak. “Mining customers tell us they can use the vehicle as a pure EV for an entire shift, with the confidence of a full-range diesel machine when they need a longer drive, and that the ability to fully charge in less than 10 minutes reduces the friction that operators on site experience with conventional EV systems.”
Echion’s lithium ion cells.
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