Jackie Cawthra

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Echandia Achieves World-First with DNV-GL Type Approval for LTO Batteries

Echandia is pleased to announce that it is the first company in the world to be awarded a DNV-GL Type approval for a LTO battery system, demonstrating that our systems meet the highest performance and safety standards.  Echandia’s E-LTO energy storage system (ESS) is a smart, highly scalable air-cooled modular design system based on Toshiba LTO cells, widely considered the best heavy-duty cell chemistry on the market. 

The significance of DNV-GL Type Approval

DNV-GL is the world’s leading classification society for maritime battery systems.  A DNV-GL certificate gives shipyards, operators and insurers confidence that E-LTO meets DNV-GL’s strict requirements, which includes compliance with international/industry standards, regulations and DNV-GL rules. 

Type tests conducted

Echandia conducted a series of tests to demonstrate compliance, including thermal runway propagation, internal/external short circuit, forced discharge, EMC, environmental tests, software functional tests and battery system performance tests. Echandia’s system passed every test conclusively and we are dedicated to maintaining these industry-leading standards.

The safest battery system on the market

LTO battery chemistry is the safest maritime chemistry on the market.  Its resilience to external heat and other abuse prevents thermal runaways. LTO systems do not form dendrite like other lithium-ion chemistries.  A build-up of dendrite can cause a short circuit and decrease battery safety over time. In the event of an internal short circuit, LTO cell chemistry goes through a phase shift, creating a current limiting function in the cell, reducing the short-circuit current, thereby preventing battery fires and other consequences.

Supreme Thermal Runaway Prevention

Unlike other lithium battery types, E-LTO is a safe, controlled system, requiring no active measures for water cooling or fire suppression and offers supreme passive prevention against thermal runaway propagation compared to other battery types. With its robust battery chemistry, thermal runaway in the cell is highly unlikely. Propagation of thermal runaway between Toshiba cells is almost impossible.

E-LTO at a glance

-Based on the safest battery chemistry (Lithium titanium oxide – LTO);
-The only LTO battery system with DNV-GL type approval;
-Engineered to be equal to or better than other Li-Ion-type batteries in terms of weight and volume for heavy-duty applications;
-Superior supercharging performance. High power charge/discharge capacity.
-Long-term system stability and reliability – 10 years+ for heavy-duty operation, without affecting safety or performance.

Damen Shipyards and Echandia Marine Announce Pioneering Strategic Partnership

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Stockholm and Gorinchem, August 2020

Damen Shipyards and Echandia have cemented a global partnership, combining Echandia’s DNV-Certified E-LTO energy systems and battery expertise, and Damen’s industry-leading tugboat experience.

The first project will be a fully-electric ship-handling tug, the first of its kind in the world, to service New Zealand’s largest container and international trade terminal, the Ports of Auckland Limited (POAL).  This is an exciting project for Echandia, as the port manages over half of New Zealand’s imports and exports and services hundreds of thousands of cruise ship voyagers each year.

The RSD-E Tug 2513 will be a zero-emissions derivation of the IMO Tier III-ready RSD Tug 2513, introduced by Damen in 2018.

World-leading sustainable solutions

Echandia’s E-LTO energy storage system (ESS) is a smart, highly scalable air-cooled modular design system based on Toshiba LTO cells – widely considered the best heavy-duty cell chemistry on the market. The 2.8 MWh ESS is specifically optimised for the RSD-E Tug application and will be type-certified by world-leading testing and certification organization, Bureau Veritas.

Damen has a pioneering reputation for fuel-efficient hybrid tug design, developing both multi-functional standard vessels and custom-built, state-of the-art tugboat designs.

With sustainability playing an increasingly important role in maritime strategy, shipyards recognise the need to accelerate the development of sustainable, environmentally-friendly solutions to ensure that they remain competitive.

The Echandia-Damen partnership brings together sophisticated battery technology and deep skills in the shipyard industry with technology strategy and development to bring the next generation of electric tugboats to the global market. 

Speaking about this partnership, Echandia’s CEO, Magnus Eriksson said:

The Damen-Echandia partnership is a powerful one. Damen’s understanding of and experience with the global tugboat market, combined with Echandia’s deep engineering and energy system expertise will result in a whole new market for electric tugboats and speed up the development of world-leading solutions. With over 30 shipyards and related companies worldwide, Damen has a global presence that will allow us to drive far more business impact for our end-users.