News

June 6, 2016

Tool Giant Stanley Invests in 3D Li-ion Battery Venture

Stanley Ventures, the newly-formed venture arm of Stanley Black & Decker, has announced a strategic investment in Prieto Battery, which is working to commercialize a 3D lithium-ion battery technology that uses non-toxic materials and offers the ability to customize shapes. Prieto’s battery is designed around a porous copper structure (copper […]
June 3, 2016

Samsung SDI Drops Fuel Cells, Will Concentrate on Batteries

Battery giant Samsung SDI has announced that it will completely exit the fuel cell business in order to concentrate on battery-based energy storage. “Samsung SDI decided to drop fuel cell-related business projects, as the outlook of the market isn’t good,” a company spokesman told the Korea Times. The move is […]
June 1, 2016

Li-ion Batteries a Bright Spot in China’s Economy

China’s overall economy is in the doldrums these days, but the lithium-ion battery industry is booming, according to market intelligence firm CCM. Nearly 80% of the world’s new investment in Li-ion batteries was in China in 2014. China’s electrochemical energy storage market recorded a compound annual growth rate of 110% […]
May 31, 2016

Battery Lifetime: How Long Can Electric Vehicle Batteries Last?

Electric vehicle have become a common sight on streets today, and many people have started to enjoy the quiet comfort, getting used to charging at night and silently doing errands. Electric vehicles are new enough to wonder, how long will they last? This is not a simple question, because it […]
May 27, 2016

Chinese and Swiss Firms Collaborate on More Efficient Electrode Slurry Production Process

Chinese Li-ion battery manufacturer Lishen has ordered four electrode slurry production lines from the Swiss firm Bühler, a contract worth almost $10.5 million. Over the next few years, Lishen plans to open three new battery factories in China, with a combined annual capacity of 40 GWh, equivalent to about 700,000 […]
May 27, 2016

Electric Air-Supported Ferry Launched

An air-supported electric ferry has been launched at Latitude Yachts in Riga, Latvia. A Leclanché lithium-ion battery energy storage system is onboard and provides electricity for the vessel, which is said to be the fastest of its kind. A fan blows air under the ship to create a cavity which […]
May 24, 2016

China’s Lithium-Ion Battery Production Tripled In 2015

China’s lithium-ion battery market is booming thanks to government support for electric vehicles, according to a new report from CCM (a major market analysis firm for the country’s chemicals, agriculture, food, and life sciences, markets). The report revealed that in May 2016 alone, around RMB2.6 billion (~$400 million) was put […]
May 23, 2016

Tesla Reportedly Approaches LG, Samsung and SK for Model 3 Batteries

Japanese giant Panasonic is currently Tesla’s exclusive battery partner, but as its battery needs balloon along with demand for the upcoming Model 3, it’s only logical that the California company should keep its options open with other suppliers. The Korea Times reported that Tesla has approached LG Chem, Samsung SDI […]
May 20, 2016

XG Sciences Receives DOE Grant for Silicon-Graphene Anode Technology

Michigan-based XG Sciences has received a DOE Round 2 small business award for $150,000, which it will use to support its efforts to develop low-cost manufacturing of a silicon-graphene composite anode. One goal for the new anode type is to reduce the formation of the solid electrolyte interface (SEI). The […]
May 18, 2016

Tesla Considers LG Chem, Samsung SDI, & SK Innovation For Batteries

“Don’t put all your eggs in one basket,” my old Irish grandmother liked to say. Tesla Motors is following her advice when it comes to who will supply it with batteries for its cars and energy storage products. Even though Panasonic is a major partner in the Gigafactory currently under […]
May 2, 2016

LG Chem to License Optodot’s Boehmite Ceramic-Coated Battery Separators

Optodot Corporation has granted a license to LG Chem for batteries, cells, separators and electrolyte members comprising boehmite, an aluminum oxide hydroxide mineral. The license permits LG Chem to use boehmite separator films for lithium-ion batteries. “Boehmite ceramic coating layers offer a number of distinct benefits in lithium-ion batteries, including […]
April 28, 2016

Daimler Starts Selling Home Energy Storage Units

Daimler AG, in conjunction with its subsidiary Deutsche ACCUMOTIVE, has begun deliveries of its first home energy storage systems, following months of successful commercial deliveries. The lithium-ion, battery-based home energy storage units — which are being manufactured by Deutsche ACCUMOTIVE — are based on the technologies developed for use in […]