From an electric Mustang to an electric commercial truck, both Ford and Webasto had plenty to be excited about at this year’s SEMA show.
Webasto, one of the top 100 global automotive suppliers, won Ford’s 2019 Best of Show Stand Award for Outstanding Achievement in Design for Mustang Lithium, a one-off battery electric prototype with 1,000 ft-lbs of torque and over 900 horsepower.
The powerpack is not only providing the juice for Ford’s new electric Mustang, it’s also been tapped to propel commercial vehicles forward.
The Webasto CV standard battery system is designed for total scalability and configuration flexibility. Each battery pack has 35 kWh of energy and up to 10 packs can be used for a combined 350 kWh. With 400V and 800V versions available, the system can be easily configured via the vehicle interface box (VIB), which is the master battery management system and power distribution unit. It’s a plug-and-play system that reduces development time and cost for the vehicle manufacturer.
“Webasto first entered the electric vehicle market in 2014 with the high voltage heater, as part of its strategic plan to serve its OEM customers as they moved more decisively into the e-mobility space,” said Mark Denny, president and CEO of Webasto Customized Solutions in North America. “Our expansion into battery systems, battery testing equipment, thermal management and charging systems means that both small and large manufacturers now have a respected supplier with decades of experience working within the complex vehicle manufacturing environment, as well as with dealers across North America, Europe and China.”
Webasto offers both off-the-shelf solutions for the CV Standard Battery and custom developments for OEM projects. Using both active and passive cooling, electric fluid heating and heat pump configurations, Webasto thermal management is designed to keep battery systems in optimum operating temperature which enhances performance, range and battery life.
At the Mustang Lithium display, Webasto also featured its TurboDX Level-2 charging station. The charging unit that was shown connected to the Mustang Lithium is compatible with both plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and battery electric vehicles, and perfect for home, business and multi-unit dwelling applications.
The Webasto charging solution features a slim, compact design, a durable aluminum rear enclosure and a quick-read charging status indicator.
Webasto also offers the TurboCord portable vehicle charger. The TurboCord lets users take their charger with them wherever they go. It can be plugged directly into any standard 120-volt electrical outlet, or even a 240V outlet for quicker charge times, allowing total charging flexibility and freedom.
“With the introduction of our new modular battery system, thermal management and charging technologies, Webasto has demonstrated its commitment to vertically integrate itself within the North American commercial vehicle and automotive e-mobility marketplace,” Denny said.
