Sion Power's Licerion HE Technology Provides Impressive Performance in HAPS Application

Sion Power®, the technology leader in high-energy, lithium-metal rechargeable batteries, announces the demonstration of its Licerion® High Energy (HE) technology with 500 Wh/kg and 1000 Wh/L. Licerion-HE is designed to provide longer mission times and enables higher payloads for high-altitude pseudo satellites (HAPS), high-altitude long-endurance (HALE), and a variety of other unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

Sion Power has designed the Licerion-HE for the UAV markets, such as HAPS, where recharge energy is provided by photovoltaic cells mounted on the aircraft surface. Additional application requirements include a minimal weight burden from battery packs, high gravimetric energy density, and slow cycling; all are features of the Licerion-HE design.

Thales Alenia Space-France and Sion Power have collaborated over the last year to determine the ability of Sion Power's Licerion-HE cell to meet the requirements of the Thales Stratobus. Stratobus is a stratospheric airship, a high altitude, multi-purpose platform that uses a combination of solar energy and battery storage as its power source. "Sion Power cycled their cells following the Stratobus flight profile for over a year, and the results were impressive," said Frederic BEZIAT, Stratobus Energy Storage Manager at Thales Alenia Space-France. Mr. BEZIAT went on to say that, "The Licerion cells completed 1000 cycles, which means the Stratobus could stay aloft continuously for more than two years. The high energy density of the Licerion cells can provide all the energy needed without compromising payload capacity."

Sion Power is currently working with customers on battery pack development with supply dates beginning in mid-2021 for UAV markets. Broader distribution for the Licerion-HE is scheduled for early 2022.