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Saft has won contracts to supply around five million of its Eternacell branded primary lithium cells to leading OEMs for electricity metering projects in China, India and Taiwan. The contracts represent a significant commercial breakthrough for the Eternacell brand developed specifically for utility metering applications in emerging economies, where the cells offer a unique combination of value for money, performance and long life.
For these latest contracts, Saft is supplying Eternacell ER 14250 cells, a 1/2AA format that offers a nominal voltage of 3.6 V and a nominal capacity of 1.2Ah. Saft has optimized the Eternacell design to provide a 10+ year life to power real-time microprocessor clock and memory backup functions for new generation of electricity meters in emerging economies. The cells can maintain typical currents for electricity meters with a wide operating temperature covering any outdoor condition. They provide exceptional shelf and standby life thanks to a low self discharge of less than one percent per year (at +20°C).
Manufactured at Saft’s Zhuhai China facility to the most exacting quality procedures, the Eternacell cells feature Saft’s well proven lithium-thionyl chloride (Li-SOCl2) chemistry refined over decades of experience in metering applications.
“We are delighted to have made this significant breakthrough for the Eternacell brand in Asia. These major contracts confirm the Eternacell design as the perfect choice for OEMs targeting the specific needs of emerging economies, thanks to competitive pricing allied to our emphasis on long life and reliable field performance that draws on Saft’s extensive metering expertise” said Thomas Alcide, General Manager of Saft’s Specialty Battery Group. “This success in the electricity metering market now provides the platform for us to target Eternacell solutions at other applications.”