Introducing our new Cell Prototyping Service

With our extensive range of primary and lithium-ion batteries, we are confident that we’re able to meet the needs of most applications. But there are times that a customer needs a more bespoke solution, and that’s precisely why we’ve introduced our new Cell Prototyping Service.

Each prototype goes through a five-stage process, with Saft’s experts on hand throughout to guide developers towards a tailored battery solution that provides the quality, safety and high performance required in their application.

Here we explore the five stages in detail, and speak to Benjamin Le Guern, Development Engineer in Saft’s CSE Division, about why the service has been made available.

The five stages

1 – Scoping the project

We start by confirming your application’s profile, discussing where and how it will be deployed and the required performance parameters

2 – Designing the prototype

Throughout the collaborative design process, our expert team will provide swift, detailed recommendations about the right path for your prototype. We’ll explore the right cell construction, electrochemistry and more, to identify a bespoke battery that meets your needs.

3 – Manufacturing the prototype

With the designs agreed, we’ll produce a limited quantity (up to 100 units) of your tailored battery solution.

4 – Testing and Validation

The prototypes are subjected to rigorous tests to evaluate their performance, reliability, and safety. This can be done at your facility, or at one of our Saft sites. On request, we can add other tests (e.g., electrical, abusive, mechanical) to this stage of the process.

5 – Feedback and refinements

Saft can share comprehensive test reports and provide guidance on next steps. This might mean making changes to the prototype design and running more tests, so we can be sure we’ve got the best possible solution for your application.

Click to watch our new animation and explore the new Cell Prototyping Service.

Behind the new service

Saft has prototyping services available within the business already, with certain industries such as aviation and space exploration requiring highly tailored solutions for their batteries.

Per Mr. Le Guern, the new Cell Prototyping Service makes this development expertise available to a much larger audience.

“We’ve always been good at working alongside customers to find solutions to challenging and highly-specific problems. What this new service allows us to do is provide even more options to our customers, by developing tailored cells that sit outside of our existing range.”

“Sometimes we can adapt a battery that we already have in our range. It might be close to having the required performance and we only need to alter the electrochemistry or the casing slightly. Sometimes our technical team are presented with an even greater challenge that requires an innovative solution. Either way, a prototyping service can really help that process and it allows us to work with customers and try bold new ideas. Ultimately, it helps us to get the right solution.”

“We’re really excited by this because it’s so valuable for everyone involved. Our customers get to explore what is possible before taking their application to market, and it’s also helpful to us. We love the challenges that come with these projects, and it often provides a new perspective for us as engineers.”