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Nickel-Hydrogen (Ni-H2) batteries have an extensive database of successful operation in aerospace applications requiring long life, no maintenance, and extremely high reliability. In the common pressure vessel (CPV) design configuration, the life cycle cost of the system is actually lower than that of lead acid and other competing battery technologies. This cost advantage can be directly attributed to the long life, exceeding 10,000 deep discharge cycles, and no maintenance capabilities of the CPV Nickel-Hydrogen battery. As a result the CPV has significant market potential in terrestrial applications such as load leveling, remote energy storage, and aircraft starting.

The multicell common pressure vessel (CPV) nickel-hydrogen (Ni-H2) battery manufactured by Johnson Controls Battery Group, Inc. has completed full flight qualification, including random vibration at 19.5 g for two minutes in each axis, electrical characterization in a thermal vacuum chamber, and mass-spectroscopy vessel leak detection. A first launch is scheduled in 1992. Several new design variations, ranging from 9 Ah to 125 Ah and 12 to 32 volts, in 12.7 cm (5″) and 25.4 cm (10″) diameter vessels have been developed and prototypes fabricated for a variety of customers. Designs for smaller capacity, smaller diameter (6.4-8.9 cm) and higher voltage (up to 100 volts) are in progress. The CPV battery offers cost and weight savings of up to 30% as compared to traditional nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd) and individual pressure vessel (IPV) Ni-H2 batteries. The fully qualified design provided a 50% weight savings over its Ni-Cd predecessor for the same application.