Mahindra and FEV have developed a new high energy density lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery for the Mahindra Electric Origin SUVs. The system has recently undergone an extensive series of tests to prove its compliance with international safety standards. The battery system performed outstandingly in the fuel fire test, the nail penetration and the rollover tests.
“The test results are another proof for the excellent cooperation between our companies. By bringing together our competencies, we were able to develop an innovative battery system that is optimally tailored to the needs of the Indian target market,” said Dr. Thomas Hülshorst, Global Vice President Electric Powertrain at FEV. “With our extensive expertise in battery system development, Mahindra and FEV have developed a solution that exceeds the industry standards.”
Mahindra’s Electric Origin SUV lineup will make use of the battery system, which comes in two varieties with a combined capacity of 59 kWh and 79 kWh. Together, the partners saved time to market and development costs by creating the new battery system in just two years. The end product is a system that demonstrates the innovation power of both companies and sets an industry standard with its best-in-class fast charging capability of 20–80% in 20 minutes.
During the entire development process, all safety-relevant and performance-oriented tests on cell- and pack level were successfully passed. These tests were carried out under strict conditions at Mahindra’s R&D facilities as well as at FEV ́s eDLP, the world ́s largest independent high-voltage battery test center,
situated near Leipzig, Germany. All tests are based on the standards of international organizations such as IEC, ISO, UL, SAE and AIS, with AIS being the most important regulation for the Indian market. Constantly, the system showed extraordinary stability and reliability, fulfilling the requirements even in extreme situations.
The presale of the successfully tested battery system has successfully started in mid-February and is now going into series production. Meanwhile, the two companies are planning to develop further innovative battery systems in close cooperation.
FEV
FEV was founded in 1978 by Professor Franz Pischinger. As an automotive engineering company, FEV provides a wide range of development services to the global transportation industry. This includes expertise in conventional and alternative powertrains (including electric and hybrid systems, batteries, and fuel cells), vehicle development (covering areas like chassis, body, and safety), and increasingly, software and intelligent mobility solutions. They support manufacturers from concept to production, focusing on innovation and sustainable mobility.
