The Chinese Everspring advertisement for Lithium-ion Battery (LIB) use by submarine carries the above photo - what appears to be a (or the) Type 092 Xia class SSBN. The description "48 hours continuously under the water of 1,000 meters for one charge" suggest the batteries are for emergency backup if a submarine reactor fails. "1,000 meters" is very deep diving!
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In Submarine MattersRussian Submarine Industry - Lada discontinued - no AIP -LIBs? of 28 January 2016 I commented:
The comments that followed, such as from KQN, prompted me to do a bit of research. I located Everspring Global Limited:
"Everspring Global Limited is an authorized distributor of Thunder Sky Battery Limited or Winston Battery Limited, since 2001.
Everspring Customer Applications include, see right sidebar “Submarines in China” String is http://www.everspring.net/product-battery-customer-submarine.htm . Everspring explains:
Submarine in China equipped with Solid State Lithium ion Power Battery. Solid State Lithium ion Power Battery is safe and the possibility of explosion is very low. It can work not only at low temperature(-25℃),but also at 75℃.TS-LP5453B battery packs of 220V,500Ah in submarine can drive 48 hours continuously under the water [suggest the batteries are for emergency backup if a submarine reactor fails] of 1,000 meters for one charge. [with emails for sales to US, Europe, etc]
Sales Contact:
Europe: sales-euro@everspring.net
USA: sales-us@everspring.net
Rest of the World: sales-row@everspring.net ”
BUT CAN RUSSIA HOLD UP ITS SIDE?
"The world’s largest lithium-ion battery plant, a joint venture between the Chinese lithium battery manufacturer Thunder Sky Group and Russian state run agency RUSNANO, was recently opened in Novosibirsk, Russia. Novosibirsk is a heavy industrial (including aerospace and nuclear) Russian city in southwestern Siberia which is increasingly into IT.
…The Liotech commercial venture has already reported to have signed a number of contracts to supply lithium batteries. Chief Executive Officer of Liotech Alexander Erokhin indicated that the company has seen interest in Liotech lithium batteries from businesses in the Russian military industrial complex..."
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[Comment - In 2014 China was the world's third largest Lithium producer and second largest reserves. Russia wasn't listed. But trade sanctions (perhaps targeting dual-use technologies like LIBs) and low oil prices means Russia, with its lower value ruble, cannot ensure Lithium supplies for LIBs.
for InvestorIntel reports Russia focused on securing stable lithium supply as demand for products grows, January 4, 2016:
"The Russian government plans to create conditions for a significant increase in lithium production and lithium products during the next several years.
According to Yuri Gerner, Director General of the Novosibirsk Chemical Concentrates Plant (NCCP), one of the world’s leading manufacturers of the nuclear fuel for NPPs and for research reactors, the majority of global producers of lithium products have their own raw material base, which allows them to significantly save on production costs, however Russia, to date, has experienced serious problems with stable lithium supplies.
According to an official spokesman of Denis Manturov, Russia’s Minister of Industry and Trade, (a person, who is responsible for the development of lithium industry in the Russian government), lack of the domestic raw material base seriously restricts the ability of Russia to produce lithium products at competitive cost.
The situation is aggravated by the ongoing economic crisis in Russia and the devaluation of the national currency – ruble, which results in a significant increase of the cost of raw material.
...In addition to the supplies of raw materials, a particular attention will be paid for the increase of production of lithium-ion batteries in Russia."
A clear 2011 technical explanation of LIBs from Liotech, joint Russian RUSNANO - Chinese Thunder Sky venture.
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Eugene Gerden continues: "One of such projects is expected to be re-launched by Liotech, a subsidiary of Russia’s nanogiant Rusnano, which involves the resume of the operations of the existing Russian plant for the production of lithium-ion batteries.
The plant was built by Liotech in cooperation with the Chinese Thunder Sky during the period of 2009-2011, while total amount of investments in the project exceeded 13.5 billion rubles (US$300 million).
According to initial plans of Liotech, the design capacity of the plant should be 400 million ampere-hours. Thunder Sky had promised to acquire the 85% stake of the plant, however decided to leave the project at the beginning of 2013. In summer 2014 Liotech decided to suspend its production, due to a significant decline of demand for its production in the domestic market, caused by the financial crisis in Russia.
…In addition, there are also plans for the active use of lithium-ion batteries in the Russian defence industry, and in particular in the production of unmanned vehicles and other combat equipment and weapons."
PETES COMMENT
So China (with Thunder Sky - Winston - Everspring) appears to have the intention, money and Lithium supplies to develop LIBs for submarine. LIBs as an emergency backup for SSBN and probably SSN reactors. This may be a step towards full LIBs for SSKs (diesel-electric subs) such as an Improved Yuan class.
Russia (with Liotech) may be the junior partner in a joint Chinese-Russian LIB effort. Russia may have the intention but not the money or Lithium supplies given its current economic problems.
Russia may, however, be able to barter its higher technical know-how (especially in nuclear subs and reactors) for Chinese LIBs or for more Chinese backing of Liotech.
Pete