Leclanché SA has completed the development of a third-generation marine battery system designed to support the needs of ship builders in producing 100% electric and hybrid marine vessels. Called the Navius MRS-3 (Marine Rack System), the new system improves upon Leclanché’s MRS-2 which is already powering a broad range of ferries, container ships and specialty vessels in service around the world.
The system will begin shipping in 2023 and has already been specified in several major design wins including Scandlines’ 10MWh PR24 zero-emission freight ferry. The Navius MRS-3 is being formally introduced at Electric Hybrid Marine World Expo 2022 being held in Amsterdam this week.
The enhancements included in the Navius MRS-3 starts with the company’s proprietary, high-energy 65 Ah G/NMC cells fitted into its latest generation M3 Energy battery modules. Both are produced in-house at the company’s European cell manufacturing facilities in Germany and the company’s new automated, state-of-the-art module assembly line in Switzerland.
Battery string voltages of up to 1200 VDC are available with up to 720 A string continuous discharge current. The number of cells per module has been increased to 36 from 32 allowing each module to provide 8.7kWh of energy, representing a 13% increase over those fitted in the MRS-2. The modules comply with the most stringent safety requirements for the marine, rail, and road sectors.