EXOES, a company specializing in thermal management for electromobility and globally recognized for its expertise in immersion cooling technology, has signed a twenty-year contract with FLYING WHALES, an emerging player in the aeronautics sector, for the development and production of complete cooled electric battery systems for the LCA60T airship.
The partnership will equip the LCA60T airship from FLYING WHALES, capable of lifting and transporting 60-ton loads, with high-tech battery systems. This innovative airship can generate and distribute up to 4×1 MW of electric power, allowing it to move and remain in position during cargo handling operations. This makes it the most powerful airborne electrical system in the world. The HVDC network relies on four powerful batteries, which serve as energy reserves to reconcile the slow dynamics of the turbogenerator with the fast dynamics of the electrical grid. The power provided by the generators is managed so that the batteries can always absorb excess power or supply any missing power.
The batteries developed by EXOES use Toshiba’s Lithium-ion LTO SCiB technology, known for its high charging and discharging performance, cycling tolerance, long life, and high safety standards. An ultra-efficient immersion cooling system called «E-MERSIV,» proprietary technology from EXOES, limits the heating of the thousands of cells onboard while ensuring maximum safety. This precise temperature control allows the batteries to deliver maximum power while minimizing the impact on their lifespan.
Key points of the partnership:
- Contract duration: 20 years.
- Products involved: Complete cooled electric battery systems, as well as spare parts for maintenance, repair, and overhaul.
- Production capacity: Adaptable to the growth of airship sales, with a maximum production capacity of up to 36 airships per year.
- Reliability and certification: High-reliability technological solutions compatible with the airship’s certification requirements.
- After-sales support: A support contract will be signed one year before service entry, covering technical support, revision of technical documentation, maintenance program management, and personnel training.
- Repair center: Maintenance of an EASA-145 approved repair center throughout the support period.
Arnaud Desrentes, CEO of EXOES, said: “We are thrilled to collaborate with FLYING WHALES on this major breakthrough in decarbonized mobility. The battery we are developing for this project is exceptionally innovative and highlights our ability to meet the very high technical demands of the aeronautical
sector.”
Vincent Guibout, CEO of FLYING WHALES, added: “We see EXOES as a top-tier technology partner, capable of meeting the strict development standards of our heavy-lift airship project while ensuring first rate quality and reliability. We sought a collaborative partner rather than a simple supplier executing
specifications, and together we have worked meticulously on the project requirements to deliver the best possible product for this revolutionary initiative.”
About EXOES
Founded in 2009 in Gradignan (33), EXOES is a pioneering company in the field of electromobility, distinguished by its cutting-edge technological solutions aimed at improving energy efficiency and contributing to the fight against climate change. It is globally renowned for its expertise in immersion cooling technology. EXOES provides engineering services such as design, simulation, prototyping, testing, and support in setting up on-site testing centers. Additionally, it markets high-performance components, including batteries and cooling loops. With offices in Gradignan and London, the company aims to become the leader in vehicle electrification technologies (air, land, and sea) by 2028, and plans to continue its expansion in Europe and North America. With 80 employees, it achieved a turnover of approximately 10 million euros in 2023.
Press contact: Sophie Ragot
About FLYING WHALES
FLYING WHALES is a French-Canadian company developing an ambitious and unique program driven by its innovations and the quality of its team and industrial consortium: the LCA60T, a rigid airship for the transport of heavy loads with a carrying capacity of 60 tons. Initially designed to meet the needs of renewable wood resource operations in hard-to-reach areas, the unique hovering loading and unloading capabilities of the LCA60T will provide solutions to many logistical challenges and isolated regions worldwide with a very low environmental footprint. This solution will enable the low-cost, point-to-point transportation of heavy or oversized loads, free from terrestrial constraints. FLYING WHALES is also developing FLYING WHALES SERVICES, the company that will operate the LCA60T. FLYING WHALES QUÉBEC is its Canadian subsidiary, in which Investissement Québec is a shareholder, to participate in the aeronautical program and, in the industrial phase, to approach the American continent.
For more information: https://www.flying-whales.com
Press contact: Agathe Le Bars