Bren-Tronics Brenergy™ 6T Vehicle Battery:
Leading the way to power energy-demanding armoured vehicles in Europe and USA

Download article as PDF

Before 2014, solutions for cranking and powering systems on armoured vehicles were the well-known lead acid batteries mounted in parallel (sometimes even up to 10). As the military power demand on-board of modern combat vehicles was growing, Bren-Tronics continuously worked on designing a complementary powerful Li-Ion 6T battery. The space required for all the lead batteries competed with mission critical requirements, such as technology and personnel, while the weight of these batteries stressed other components on already taxed platforms.

Designed with the military tactical vehicle requirements in mind, Bren-Tronics introduced the first Li-Ion 6T battery in 2015, prior to the MIL-PRF release from U.S. Army's Combat Capabilities Development Command (CCDC) Ground Vehicle System Center (GVSC). There are several thousands of these batteries in use today worldwide addressing the three basic requirements of military vehicle manufacturers and customers: more energy, less weight and gain space.

A single Bren-Tronics 24V 6T replaces two to three of the 12V lead acid 6T batteries used today, cutting weight and volume in half, while meeting and exceeding on-board power requirements. The battery can also be fully charged in less than one hour and provides power for multiple loads. Several batteries can run in parallel for extended silent watch missions.

More recently Bren-Tronics delivered the first type 2-B90 (highest capacity) fully compliant to the latest release of MIL-PRF 32565 Rev C. Performances at cold temperatures, high discharge rates and cycling requirements asked of on our Li-Ion 6T were very challenging.

The Bren-Tronics compliant battery BT-70939M-TPB (105 Ah) not only meets the extreme cold temperature cranking requirement and the stringent high temperature cycling test but also the very rigorous safety testing as per the MIL-PRF. The battery went through numerous tests and passed the following (non-exhaustive):

• Battery Crush
• Battery Nail Penetration
• Projectile Penetration
• Mechanical and functional shock
• Vi/liation
• High and low weight drop
• Blowing sand and dust
• Cycle life at 38°C and 50°C

This Lithium-Ion battery is the result of more than ten years of development, trials, test reports that have required millions of dollars of self-investment. It revolutionizes the way power is delivered to the military.

This Li-Ion solution dramatically changes the operational capabilities of armoured vehicles and the way in which military organizations manage the inventories of their vehicle batteries. The battery incorporates multiple electronic protections and safety features as well as a CAN Bus data access to monitor all battery parameters at all times. The battery cycle life is extended from hundreds of charging cycles to thousands of cycles compared to lead acid and the maintenance is reduced to zero.

The battery is supplied to every major U.S. service including the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps, not to mention Special Forces units. This battery has been also tested and selected by numerous leading defence vehicle manufacturers in Europe.

Applications for the Lithium-Ion 6T power solution include tactical and combat vehicles, robotics, unmanned vehicles, silent watch, communication systems, weapon systems, active protection systems, auxiliary power systems and hybrid power systems. The high energy version not only provides 142Ah with a nominal energy capacity of 3.75kWh, but also provides cold cranking up to 1100A at -18°C and 400A at -40°C power version (with no pre-heat required) and can be monitored through CAN Bus communication at all times.

The military have found multiple uses for the Bren-Tronics 6T batteries outside of the vehicle. By pairing our 6T battery with renewable source (i.e. solar panels) and a generator, you create a tactical microgrid that offers energy efficiency and power surety that assures you won't run out of power when the fuel runs out. Another novel use of our 6T's is to power high energy drone jammers, or Unmanned Ground Vehicle (UGV.)

In the near future, it will also be necessary to know how to answer the question of energy storage in hybrid vehicles. Bren-Tronics is already up for the challenge as we have been working on a future standard high-voltage Li-Ion storage solution for the last two years.

Gain in space, mobility and speed of charge, this is what today's proven breakthrough innovations bring!
At Bren-Tronics, we've got you powered.

For more information please visit:
https://www.bren-tronics.com