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| Saft Batteries | |
|---|---|
| Name | Saft Batteries |
| Type | Subsidiary |
| Industry | Battery manufacturing |
| Founded | 1918 |
| Founder | Visionaries in Paris |
| Headquarters | Levallois-Perret, France |
| Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | Industrial batteries, lithium-ion cells, nickel-based cells, battery systems |
| Parent | TotalEnergies (since 2016) |
Saft Batteries is a French industrial battery manufacturer established in 1918, known for designing and producing advanced primary and secondary battery systems for critical infrastructure, transportation, and defense. The company supplies lithium-ion, nickel-based, and reserve battery technologies used in telecommunications, aerospace, railway, and renewable energy sectors. Saft operates globally with engineering centers, manufacturing sites, and research collaborations across Europe, North America, and Asia.
Saft was founded in 1918 in Paris following demand after World War I for robust energy sources in aviation and industrial applications. During the interwar period the company expanded products for French Navy projects and civil aviation, later contributing cells to systems used in World War II. Postwar reconstruction and the rise of European Coal and Steel Community era industry drove Saft into specialty chemistry and battery innovation alongside firms in Germany, United Kingdom, and Italy. In the Cold War era Saft supplied batteries for aerospace programs linked to organizations such as European Space Agency and defense contractors serving NATO states. The 1990s brought privatization trends, mergers, and expansion into digital telecommunications supporting operators like France Télécom and equipment manufacturers including Alcatel-Lucent and Nokia. In the 21st century Saft diversified into lithium-ion technologies, partnering with automotive and energy groups like Airbus, Bombardier, Thales Group, Siemens, Schneider Electric, and later became a subsidiary of TotalEnergies in 2016 following acquisition discussions involving multinational energy corporations and regulatory reviews across European Union authorities.
Saft’s product portfolio includes industrial lithium-ion cells, nickel-cadmium and nickel-metal hydride cells, reserve batteries, and complete battery systems integrated with management electronics. Saft developed lithium-ion technologies for high-energy-density applications used by aerospace firms such as Lockheed Martin and Boeing, and supplied modular systems for rail OEMs like Alstom and Stadler Rail. Its nickel-based chemistries supported power backup solutions for telecom operators including Vodafone and Orange S.A., as well as for utilities like EDF and RWE. Saft has provided reserve batteries for subsea and oil-and-gas platforms operated by companies such as Schlumberger and Halliburton. Battery management systems and thermal management designs are engineered to standards referenced by agencies like European Aviation Safety Agency and industrial bodies including International Electrotechnical Commission.
Saft serves markets spanning aerospace and defense, where products are used in satellites for entities like Arianespace and payload systems for agencies such as NASA; rail and mass transit for clients like Deutsche Bahn and SNCF; telecom and data centers for operators including AT&T and BT Group; renewable energy storage projects tied to developers associated with Iberdrola and Ørsted; and oil and gas field systems for firms such as TOTAL S.A. and BP. Military applications link Saft to procurement programs involving the armed forces of France, United States, and other NATO members. Industrial customers include original equipment manufacturers such as Honeywell and ABB.
Saft operates manufacturing plants and engineering centers across Europe, North America, and Asia. Key sites have included facilities in France and Germany for cell production, an American plant supporting aerospace contracts, and Asian sites providing logistics to OEMs in Japan and South Korea. The company’s supply chain engages materials suppliers tied to mining regions in Chile and Australia for lithium sourcing, and chemical partners in Belgium and Netherlands for electrolyte and separator components. Saft has navigated regulatory frameworks in jurisdictions overseen by bodies such as European Commission and national ministries where its plants are located.
Saft collaborates with universities and institutes including CNRS, CEA, and technical universities in Germany and United Kingdom on battery chemistry, cycle life, and safety. The company has participated in European Union research programs and consortia alongside automotive groups such as Renault and energy research centers like Fraunhofer Society. R&D focuses include high-density lithium-ion cathode and anode materials, solid-state concepts, thermal management, and battery management algorithms used in projects with aerospace integrators and renewable energy developers. Saft’s innovation pipeline has been influenced by standards from organizations like IEC and aerospace certification authorities including EASA.
Saft adheres to international safety standards and testing regimes overseen by bodies such as Underwriters Laboratories, ISO, and Transport Canada for hazardous materials transport. Safety protocols are applied to mitigate thermal runaway and to meet regulations from agencies including European Chemicals Agency and maritime authorities like International Maritime Organization when supplying batteries for shipping and offshore platforms. Environmental assessment engages lifecycle analyses referencing mining impacts in regions such as Peru and Zambia, recycling partnerships with specialist firms, and compliance with directives from European Parliament on waste electrical equipment. Saft has worked with customers and regulators to reduce carbon footprints consistent with commitments made by parent company TotalEnergies.
Saft is organized as a subsidiary under the corporate umbrella of TotalEnergies, reporting through energy and advanced materials divisions to executive leadership influenced by boards that include industry figures from Schneider Electric, Airbus, and finance institutions such as BNP Paribas and Goldman Sachs. The company’s corporate governance aligns with reporting standards used by multinational corporations listed on exchanges in Paris and shaped by EU corporate directives. Strategic partnerships, joint ventures, and procurement agreements connect Saft to multinational original equipment manufacturers, defense primes, and utilities across global markets.
Category:Battery manufacturers Category:French companies established in 1918