Briggs & Stratton is launching its Vanguard Lithium-Ion 48V 1.5kWh* Commercial Battery (Si1.5), which is now available for order. The company is growing its Vanguard battery portfolio to include swappable (Si Series) and fixed (Fi Series) battery pack configurations to meet a wider range of application and equipment needs.
The Si1.5 Battery features a self-contained package with a handle on top for easy swapping between equipment — or equipment and charger — on the jobsite. Designed, engineered and assembled in the United States, this globally distributed product is backed by the Briggs & Stratton service network.
With safety and durability paramount in its design, the Si1.5 is built tough with a diecast aluminum casing that adds rigidity and reduces vibration and shock response from the pack. Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) looking to incorporate the Si1.5 into their machines will benefit from the battery’s brand-agnostic, standard interface design that adds flexibility while minimizing integration costs, according to the manufacturer.
Swappable interface
As a power solutions provider at the forefront of off-highway electrification,
Vanguard, appreciating the challenges OEMs and end users face when adopting electric equipment — most pressingly, range anxiety and charging infrastructure -- Vanguard turned to a tried-and-true technology from the hand-held, cordless tool market: swappable battery packs. The easy-to-switch batteries have been a staple for drills and saws. Now, Vanguard is making the technology a reality for off-highway equipment, too, and is actively working on Si1.5 integration projects with manufacturers across the construction, commercial turf and industrial industries, the company said.
*Total energy measured using a 0.2C discharge per IEC 61960-3:2017
“At Vanguard, we have been developing and investing in innovative battery technology for years,” said David Frank, senior vice president and president of electrification at Briggs & Stratton. “We're building on this commitment to electrification by expanding our configuration options to include a high-power, swappable battery pack that will enable more OEMs to begin their journey in offering battery-powered equipment. When designing this configuration, we leveraged learnings from our fixed battery series to create a solution that offers an impressive run time and that can operate at high amps. With this new option, we’re able to bring the efficiency, versatility and reliability our batteries are known for to more customers across a diverse range of applications.”
Rental-ready engineering
Offering the ability to swiftly swap freshly charged packs from application to application, plus a rugged, built-to-last exterior, the Si1.5 is designed for the rental market. Additionally, the battery’s advanced Lithium-Ion chemistry delivers a 1,000-cycle lifespan with no maintenance. This allows rental equipment to stay out in the field and operators to stay at work. With its swappable nature and a standard charge time of less than two hours, rental equipment powered by the Si1.5 eliminates range anxiety from the equation.
“In an industry where uptime is everything, the flexibility and durability offered by the Si1.5 is going to be a game-changer for rental houses and end users alike,” said Paul Bramhall, director of electrification/rental — EMEA at Briggs & Stratton. “It will enable rental houses to have more freedom over their equipment’s service and maintenance needs while offering end users the peace of mind that may have otherwise seemed out of reach for rented electrified products. Plus, the rental houses can run Vanguard-powered equipment with confidence knowing it's backed by the trusted Briggs & Stratton brand and global service network.”
The Si1.5 is one part of an increasingly diverse battery product portfolio from Vanguard. The company's journey to electrification began in October 2019 with the introduction of its 48V 5kWh* Commercial Battery. Since then, Vanguard has released a competitive range of seven power options including 1.5kWh*, 3.8kWh*, 5kWh* and 10kWh* in varying configurations for maximum integration flexibility.
Offering high power and a great cycle life all in one compact package, the Si1.5 unlocks application potential across a diverse range of industries looking to embrace electrification. To learn more about the Vanguard Lithium-Ion fixed and swappable battery pack series, click here.
*Total energy measured using a 0.2C discharge per IEC 61960-3:2017
