Batteries selected to power Submarine Rescue Vehicle

Thursday, 5 August 2004

The Rolls-Royce ZEBRA battery has won its first order, to power the rescue craft which forms a vital part of the NATO Submarine Rescue System.

Eight ZEBRA batteries, each with the energy of 17kWh will propel and power the Submarine Rescue Vehicle, which can raise up to 150 trapped crew to safety.

Last month Rolls-Royce announced it had won a £47 million contract to supply the NATO Submarine Rescue System for the Ministry of Defence, acting as Host Nation on behalf of the UK, France and Norway. Now the Ministry has confirmed ZEBRA as the power for the propulsion motors and also internal systems such as lighting and display.

The order marks a marine first for ZEBRA, which has proven experience in powering electric vehicles around the world, including Italy, Canada, France and California, USA, for more than two million miles, including one car which ran up 60,000 maintenance-free miles. Crash testing has been carried out to ensure the batteries are safe in an accident.

The sodium/nickel chloride ZEBRA batteries have almost twice the energy density, in a reduced volume, than the original lead/acid alternatives - giving the rescue team a better chance to save lives. This additional energy enables the rescue craft's top speed to increase by over 20 per cent and operate in much stronger currents. In addition, the endurance of the rescue craft is almost doubled, allowing the operator to perform more rescue dives without recharging.

The batteries are also 40 per cent lighter, giving designers more flexibility with the rescue craft size and shape, making it much more stable when in use.

The batteries are supplied by Swiss firm MES-DEA and last year Rolls-Royce signed a 10-year agreement to transfer the technology from the road to the sea. Rolls-Royce is now exploring the applications and developing the technology for use on submarines, naval and commercial ships, including cruise liners, for sophisticated on-board electrical power distribution.

Saul Lanyado, Rolls-Royce President - Marine, said: “We have been involved in the submarine market for more than 40 years, and we continue to collaborate with partners to create innovative solutions.”

The NATO Submarine Rescue System will be based at Her Majesty's Naval Base, Clyde, and will go into operation from 2006.

Rolls-Royce has designed, supplied and supported all the reactor systems and equipment that power the Royal Navy's nuclear submarine fleet. It also operates the Vulcan Naval Reactor Test Establishment at Dounreay, Scotland, on behalf of the UK Ministry of Defence.