The Gen3 6T Alliance is an industry-led consortium dedicated to the development and maintenance of the Gen3 6T battery, a NATO-standard lithium-ion battery. This battery offers significantly enhanced durability, energy density, and longevity compared to traditional lead-acid batteries.
Objectives of the Gen3 6T Alliance:
Manufacturing Partnerships:
- The alliance aims to engage with manufacturing partners who have previously faced barriers to market entry due to the high costs associated with qualifying new lithium-ion batteries.
Collaboration with Key Stakeholders:
- Partnerships will extend to the custodians of MIL-PRF-32565 and innovators in lithium-ion technology, fostering a collaborative approach to battery development.
Qualification Path Development:
- The alliance will create a tailored qualification path for battery submissions, leveraging qualified components and established manufacturing bases to streamline the introduction of performance-enhancing technologies.
Production Capacity Improvement:
- By enhancing production capabilities, the alliance aims to ensure a robust supply chain that can meet the increasing demands of military applications.
Supply Chain Resilience:
- The Gen3 6T Alliance will focus on improving supply chain resilience to ensure consistent availability of advanced battery technology for the U.S. Army.
Support for Future Mobility and Energy Goals:
- The development of the Gen3 6T battery is critical to achieving the U.S. Army’s future mobility and energy objectives.
Key Benefits of the Alliance:
- Cost Reduction: Streamlines the deployment of advanced battery technology, making it more accessible for the U.S. warfighter.
- Accelerated Development: Speeds up the introduction of innovative battery solutions to meet operational needs.
- Increased Production Capacity: Ensures the ability to produce batteries at scale, supporting military readiness.
Strategic Goals:
- MIL-PRF-52565C Qualification: Achieving this qualification will enable the alliance to leverage existing qualified components and supply chains, significantly reducing qualification burdens for new technologies.
- Accelerated Technology Introduction: The alliance aims to fast-track the development of performance-enhancing technologies by creating tailored qualification paths for submissions.
- Expanded Partnerships: Seeking manufacturing and engineering partners who have previously been deterred by high qualification costs for new lithium-ion 6T batteries.
Impact:
- The GEN3 6T Alliance is committed to improving production capacity, enhancing supply chain resilience, and accelerating the development of a product vital to the U.S. Army’s mobility and energy objectives.
The Generation 3 lithium-ion 6T NATO format battery (GEN3 6T) has been custom-designed for compliance with MIL-PRF-32565C. This advanced battery solution offers significant capabilities tailored to military needs.
Key Features of the GEN3 6T Battery:
- Capacity: The GEN3 6T boasts a 135 amp-hour installed capacity.
- Nuclear-Hardened Option: Available for enhanced durability in extreme conditions.
- Modular Functionality: Supports the integration of mezzanine cards to expand the existing Battery Management System (BMS).
- Cell Compatibility: Capable of supporting various cell formats, including 18650 cylindrical, 21700 cylindrical, pouch, and prismatic cells.
Production and Development:
- Manufacturing Locations:
- UEC Advanced Electronics in Charleston, South Carolina.
- Epsilor-Electric Fuel Ltd. in Beit Shemesh, Israel.
- Sustainable Partnership: The GEN3 6T Alliance is a self-sustaining consortium of companies focused on maintaining and developing the technical data package for the GEN3 6T, which is licensed by the U.S. military. This includes components like the steel case, BMS, and BMS software.