Power supply: ultra-lightweight Lithium-Ion batteries
Energy management at sea is a constant worry for the lone sailor. Most of the navigation instruments are dependent on electricity, as are any autopilot devices and the onboard computer.
An energy supply problem can affect the skipper’s access to critical data and, in consequence, his strategic choices. A reliable power supply is therefore essential during a race. Here again one of the Group’s companies, Sagem, has effected a successful transfer of technology by getting involved in the design of the onboard electrical system. The aim being to save as much weight as possible, the traditional lead-acid batteries were replaced with much lighter Lithium-Ion batteries. These batteries can store twice as much energy as nickel-metal hydride, and four times as much as traditional lead-acid accumulators, for a given weight. “The result is that you carry less weight for the same power storage capacity,” explains Pascal Chadail, the project head at Safran. ‘The weight advantage is substantial, equivalent to a fairly muscular crew member!’
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