Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI) is set to unveil a dual-battery model incorporating a conventional lead-acid battery and a lithium-ion battery at the North American International Auto Show that begins today in Detroit.
The Business Journal quotes Johnson Controls’ power solutions unit president Alex Molinaroli:
“Even as start-stop vehicles become part of the mainstream in Europe and start to take hold in the U.S., micro hybrid technology has the potential to deliver the next level of fuel efficiency along the spectrum of vehicle performance, reaching upwards of 15 to 20 percent in fuel economy,” Molinaroli said in a written statement.
Unlike a start-stop battery, where the engine shuts down whenever the driver stops and then starts back up when the car is put in gear, the new “micro hybrid” technology could increase fuel economy by 5-12 percent in new vehicles.
The company suggests a 12V lead-acid battery alongside a 48V lithium-ion battery could optimize energy usage patterns in vehicles.
Thus, the 48V battery could focus on high-demand applications like air-conditioning while the 12V addresses vehicle startup, entertainment systems, and lighting systems.
