JCI, VW partner on battery for vehicles with Start-Stop

Johnson Controls Inc. (JCI) said it worked with Volkswagen to develop an AGM (absorbent glass mat) battery for vehicles with Start-Stop technology. The battery, more resistant to heat, gives car manufacturers more design flexibility, and is suited for operation in hot countries.

“In the next few years the demand for cars at the first hybridization stage of Start-Stop technology will be greatest. Solutions that reduce the fuel consumption and emissions in these cars are in particular demand,” says Eric Mitchell, vice president and general manager at Johnson Controls Power Solutions EMEA.

JCI and VW developed the battery in Hanover, Germany. It will be manufactured in Hanover and Zwickau in L5, L6 and L7 sizes and supplied to most Volkswagen Group production sites in Europe. The new battery is for use in all BlueMotion models with Start-Stop function. In the future it also will be available in several other vehicles.

In Start-Stop technology the engine switches off automatically when the car is stopped and is reactivated when the driver operates the clutch or the accelerator. This places extra requirements on the battery. An AGM battery allows the engine to start-up automatically while still providing power for lights and radio.

JCI said the new technology improves the performance and life of AGM batteries, especially in environments with high heat. By modifications to the negative mass in the battery, the energy store becomes more corrosion-resistant and has lower water consumption. This gives car manufacturers flexibility to integrate the battery into the vehicle where high temperatures generally arise. It is also an advantage in hot climates where there is already a high temperature under the hood while the car is parked. Volkswagen recently honored this new Johnson Controls battery with its Group Award.