Bosch has introduced a new 48-volt Li-ion battery for mild hybrids.

The pack configuration is 12s1p, with 8 Ah NMC/graphite cells. Charge power is 13 kW, and discharge power is 11 kW. The package weighs less than 7 kg, and is standardized for easy integration into new vehicle models. Production is scheduled to start in late 2018.

Bosch says it is already in talks with over a dozen customers for the new battery, and has secured a number of production projects.

The battery requires no active cooling, and its housing is made of plastic to reduce costs. Lithium-ion cells expand during charging and over the course of the unit’s service life, so the housing must withstand a certain amount of stress. Bosch engineers rearranged the cells so that the plastic housing can bear the pressure.

Anticipating a large market for entry-level hybrids, Bosch offers several powertrain components for these models. The company estimates that some 15 million 48-volt hybrid vehicles will be on the road by 2025.

“We at Bosch have long been making up-front investments in electromobility,” says Dr. Mathias Pillin, Head of Electromobility at Bosch. “There are already well over 500,000 electric and hybrid cars fitted with Bosch components. The company invests 400 million euros a year in electromobility. Bosch has years of experience from more than 30 production projects, including in the manufacture of batteries, and that expertise is now bearing fruit.”

Source: Bosch