ALTe Powertrain Technologies, the Michigan developer of a Range Extended Electric Powertrain, has signed a Letter of Intent (LOI) to form a joint venture with Inmatech, Inc., a developer of advanced supercapacitors, to produce and sell hybrid electric storage (HES) devices composed of batteries, supercapacitors and control electronics. The blend of supercapacitors with lithium ion battery cells will enable longer life for the battery cells while reducing cost by as much as 40% for an equivalent size battery composed exclusively of lithium ion cells. The applications will range from automotive batteries to stationary grid power leveling devices.
According to the companies, by combining key competencies of both companies, the joint venture will enable quick market penetration with a leading performance product at significantly reduced cost, providing robust technology in ALTe’s plug-in hybrid electric powertrain kits while allowing the joint venture to provide HES devices to the automotive and grid infrastructure markets.