Tesla Secures Battery-Improving Cooling System From Parts Maker Dana corp.
By John O'Dell November 17, 2009
Dana Holding Corp., which specializes in making truck frames and axles as well as sealing and thermal products for vehicle makers, has been tapped by electric-roadster maker Tesla Motors to supply a proprietary EV battery-cooling system said to extend the life of lithium-ion batteries.
Tesla's rear-mounted battery pack (in purple, above) is made of thousands of tightly packed lithium-ion cells and requires a sophisticated cooling system to prevent thermal problems and cell failure.
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Dana is debuting the system in Tesla's 2010 Roadster Sport.
While battery failures haven't been a significant problem for any electric-car manufacturer yet, lithium-ion batteries - the type preferred by most for all-electric and plug-in electric cars because of their light weight and high power density - are prone to heat buildup than can cause individual cells to break down.
An inexpensive but effective battery cooling system would be a major boon to the EV industry.
Ohio-based Dana is looking to benefit from the expanding electric-vehicle market as sales of its truck frames, driveshafts and axles fall. Dana's third-quarter revenue dropped 31% from a year earlier to $1.33 billion.
Closely held Tesla estimates the Roadster's battery life at 100,000 miles, or about seven years. The company, which in September received an $82.5 million equity investment to expand its number of showrooms, has delivered more than 900 Roasters, almost a third of that total since mid-September.
Danny King, Contributor
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