What is the reason for the co-branding of the new UniC AG440 C&I product with CATL?

Yuan: Ampace is a joint venture of Contemporary Amperex Technology Limited (CATL) and Amperex Technology Limited (ATL). We can say we were born with a very similar gene from day one. CATL is very strong in the cell part, and we are quite familiar and strong with the system so we can combine the strengths of both companies to come out with the best product for the European Market. For the UniC AG440, we use CATL cell technology.

Describe some features of the PR-S3 Elite residential product that could be interesting for the European Market.

Yuan: We based the PR-S3 Elite on our previous product, the PR-S4. We upgraded the low temperature performance, so it can operate at minus 20 C and can also support minus 30 C charge and discharge. Europe, especially the frigid Northern Europe, really needs good low temperature performance. Other features, like the compact foot print and the long life are also important, our battery cell can reach 15,000 cycles, support 15-year lifespan. We want our battery system to have the same lifespan as the solar PV panel. On top of that, the PR-S3 Elite delivers zero capacity degradation over the first three years. Even after three or four years, the system functions as powerfully as brand-new ones.

You have this brand philosophy, “Meet All, Green More.” What does it mean?

Yuan: “Meet All” means meeting different partners, different requirements, and different needs, especially for C&I scenarios. With “Meet All,” we not only refer to the customer, but also the partner, the requirement, and the diverse applications. When we talk about “Green More,” we mean it is a “green” energy storage system, and “more” means more value over the life of the system.

What will be the next step for technology development?

Yuan: Our company spends a lot of resources on R&D. Last year, especially for AIDC applications, we launched our new product, a semi-solid-state battery. This has been implemented in our second-generation system, the PU-200, which is selling very well. At the end of this year, we will potentially launch a new product called Prime Tank, which is the second wave of semi-solid-state battery. It has already passed early tests with some customers, and they enjoy it very much.

The Prime Tank is meant to replace the gas generator. The output is AC, and it’s very powerful. The output power can reach 15 to 20 kilowatts, while the traditional product can only meet maybe 4 kilowatts. Not only is it powerful, it’s also easy to carry and is practically noiseless. For the third wave, we are developing a new topology and AC conversion, and the efficiency will be much higher than the traditional PCS. Our internal prototype has been validated for this, and next year we may disclose more details.

The questions and responses in this sponsored interview article were provided by Ampace.