Airbus ditches lithium ion batteries for A350

Airbus is reverting to tried and tested nickel cadmium batteries for its A350 XWB family, following Boeing’s problems with lithium ion technology on the 787.

“We confirm that we have made the decision to stay with nickel cadmium for the A350, rather than lithium ion,” an Airbus spokesperson told ATW Friday. “We have made this decision based on the uncertainty surrounding the ongoing 787 investigation to protect to A350’s entry into service. It is early enough to make this decision. Basically we are going to move forward with technology which is well known and mature.”

However, despite recent developments, Airbus is stillstanding behind lithium ion technology. “We are confident that what we have developed with [battery supplier] Saft is robust and safe,” the spokesperson said. Saft will continue to supply the batteries for the A350 XWB, although it will provide nickel cadmium batteries in place of the lithium ion technology. Saft already supplies nickel cadmium batteries for other Airbus products.

The spokesperson said Airbus started informing customers of decision Wednesday. The battery switch also carries potential weight implications because lithium ion batteries are lighter than the nickel cadmium equivalent. She declined to comment further, saying only that “weight was not a factor in this decision.”

Airbus’ first A350 XWB test aircraft, MSN001, is already structurally complete and doing some ground tests. MSN002 is will enter the final assembly line over the coming days. The spokesperson said “all five test aircraft will be fitted with lithium ion batteries.”

During the initial flight test stages the manufacturer will be testing the broad performance and aerodynamics of the new twinjet, rather than more specific elements such as battery performance.

“We will perform the flight and ground tests with nickel cadmium battery as required by the authorities for certification, but we don’t need to do these specific tests of the battery early in the program. The nickel cadmium technology is well known in this application,” she explained.

Reverting to nickel cadmium batteries was always a “Plan B” option for Airbus even before the lithium ion issues emerged on the Boeing 787, the spokesperson said.

The company added: “Airbus has also launched additional maturity studies on lithium ion main batteries behavior in aerospace operations and will naturally take on board the findings of the ongoing official [Boeing 787] investigation.”

atwonline.com