DRS, Lithiumstart to pursue defence and civil energy storage applications

DRS Technologies has signed an agreement with Lithiumstart to jointly pursue business opportunities in military and commercial energy storage applications.

Under the terms of agreement, the companies will integrate DRS power electronic modules (PEM) with Lithiumstart’s energy storage systems (ESS) technology to create a powerful and scalable energy storage module.

Unlike other large-scale energy storage technologies, energy storage module is scalable from 500KW to tens of mega watts, and ideal for pulse power with improved overall safety and reliability driven by lithium iron phosphate chemistry and by limiting the stored energy content consistent with the application and mission.

Lithiumstart chief operating officer Rich Schroeder said: “The ability to adapt tune and test the COTS building blocks of our modular design to multiple DOD and commercial applications helps us accelerate time to market.

“Similarly, leveraging DRS’s proven power management and integration capabilities allows rapid deployment on multiple platforms in the near term.”

DRS Power and Control Technologies vice-president and general manager Vince Stammetti said: “Lithiumstart’s game changing technology and proven quality manufacturing processes combined with the DRS PEM technology strategically positions our team for stable and reliable power applications both in the U.S. Navy and commercial maritime market places.”

The modules can be used in naval surface combatant ships to provide stable backup power, fuel efficient operations, while reducing total ownership costs.

Additional markets include a broad spectrum of commercial workboat applications and other military systems.

DRS PEM technology is currently used on several US Navy platforms and programmes, while Lithiumstart’s ESS technology includes both internal and US Department of Defense investment in high-power density storage, including Missile Defense Agency and Army applications.