As I understand it, PSI was the original manufacturer of the cells that BMI/LiFeBatt used (the ones sent to Sandia...). LiFeBatt has a marketig relationship with BMI, but most of the R&D investment comes from BMI. They were the ones that did the design for the 4-cell modular HPS packs, and they are the ones who designed the 4-channel VMS board, which can be daisy-chained together, and connected to a vehicle management computer.
Correct, PSI was the original manufacturer of the cells that BMI/Lifebatt uses. However the original R&D investment which came from BMI has long ago been paid back and BMI does not even exist as far as being a Taiwanese business entity. Whatever relationship they have - they have with PSI and BMI is simply a broker with headquarters in Hong Kong. It was LiFeBATT who pioneered the HPS Packs and holds the patents on the tooling and the VMS board which is now in it's 5th generation of firmware.
At some point last year, BMI/LiFeBatt worked out a deal to get the better quality powder from Phostech, the patent holders. Around the same time, PSI had some management/financial problems. Sometime this year, BMI supposedly hired most of the PhDs/engineers away from PSI and have built their own manufacturing facility. The "grey" cells come from this new production line. Initially, I think the "mix" of the grey cells was pretty much the same as the "green" PSI cells that LiFeBatt originally sold. All of the green cell stock that LiFeBatt had leftover her, and in the UK, was recalled, and all of the HPS packs that have been sold use the BMI-produced grey cells.
It was LiFeBATT who worked out the Licensing arrangement with Phostech Lithium and BMI has NO part of that deal. Furthermore, it was LiFeBATT who hired most of the scientists and engineers away from PSI and have built their own manufacturing / assembly facility. BMI has no mfg. facilities whatsoever in Taiwan that I am aware of ? The 10 Ah Grey Cells were, and still are made by PSI, and the only difference is the Label that is on the cell whether it is LiFeBATT or BMI. There never was any "recall" and all of the stock that was previously made in the Green color was sold off to China and some to other Taiwanese companies primarily for use in car starter batteries.
I believe that once BMI has tested a new mix that does, in fact, allow the 10Ah cells to have a bit higher "C" rating, but I'm not sure these ever went into production. The 20C rating is all marketing hype. Even the original PSI-produced LiFeBatt cells/packs had 20C ratings. These are honestly 10-12C cells, period. Not too long ago, Phostech/BMI came up with a new mix which basically increased the capacity to 14Ah, in the same package, and with the same 10-12C rating. I had heard thatone of LiFeBatt USA's big potential customers switched their HPS order to use this new "mix", because they wanted the extra capacity.
LiFeBATT is currently testing a new Phostech mix that will be used in our new 12 Ah LiFeBATT Cells. This formula is available to us in an Energy mix and a Power mix which we will offer both for the new 12 Ah 40138 LiFeBATT cells. We have made 5,000 of each version and are in testing at the moment before we go into production of these in late December, 2008. These new cells will be a LiFeBATT exclusive product and there are no plans to make them available under any other trademark (including BMI) at the present time. LiFeBATT is now working on a new 15 Ah Cell for EV's which will be available sometime next year but it will be a different size (slightly larger) and will showcase a new HPS Pack configuration. We are also woking on a new e-bike specific product line which will be unveiled in the first quarter of 2009 and will feature a "plug & play" product line including BMS, LVC & a unique line of case configurations.
I believe that PSI is still cranking out the original "green" cells, which are still quite good, I might add (I still use two 12-cell 36V/10Ah packs isn series on my wife's Townie...), but that since they don't have the the R&D resources anymore, they won't be making any improvements. Anyway, this is why companies like Cyclone-TW are selling them, and why they have this guy Raymond actively selling them to whoever wants them. These are priced quite low, but then you run into the shipping cost issue.
PSI is still cranking out the original "Gey Cells" (which have replaced the green cells) and they are still quite good, but not a pure Phostech Lithium product. They (PSI) will not be making any improvements that I am aware of and they never did produce anything other than cells - so there are no cases, VMS, LVC, or other products that PSI makes for a complete battery solution. The "Raymond" that you mention (Raymond King) is now working for LiFeBATT and is no longer associated with PSI or BMI. Furthermore, LiFeBATT has no association whatsoever anymore with BMI. We do still have a vendor relationship with PSI for the 10 Ah "Grey Cells". They are priced (and have been for quite awhile) the same from PSI as from LiFeBATT. The only difference is LiFeBATT does not sell loose cells because we offer a "plug & play" solution with a 3 year warranty.
I hope this clears up the misconceptions that I have seen being bandied about on this Forum for sometime now.
Settin the record straignt,
Don Harmon