News

July 15, 2016

Researchers Increase Energy Density of Cathode by Controlling Oxygen Activity

An international team of researchers has demonstrated a new way to improve the performance of lithium-rich cathode materials by creating oxygen vacancies at the material’s surface. In “Gas-solid interfacial modification of oxygen activity in layered oxide cathodes for lithium-ion batteries,” published in Nature Communications, Minghao Zhang and colleagues explain the […]
July 14, 2016

Panasonic Expects to Double Sales of EV Batteries in Three Years

The unprecedented demand for the upcoming Model 3 presents major opportunities not only for Tesla, but for its partners. Panasonic, which will be the exclusive supplier of batteries for Model 3, expects its annual sales of automotive batteries to more than double in three years. Kenji Tamura, the head of […]
July 12, 2016

Swiss Researchers Enhance Li-ion Batteries With Improved Electrode Design

Researchers at the Paul Scherrer Institute and ETH Zurich in Switzerland have developed a simple procedure that they say can enhance the performance of Li-ion batteries by improving the design of the electrodes without changing the underlying chemistry. In “Magnetically aligned graphite electrodes for high rate performance Li-ion batteries,” published […]
July 9, 2016

Powin Energy Receives Patent for Battery Pack Operating System

Powin Energy, a maker of stationary storage systems, has been awarded a patent for its Battery Pack Operating System (bp-OS). The bp-OS uses an algorithm to actively and passively balance batteries down to the cell level, and also offers a picture of battery health through real-time monitoring, state-of-charge management and […]
July 7, 2016

Amprius Demonstrates New Tool for Manufacturing of Silicon Nanowire Anodes

Battery manufacturer Amprius has demonstrated a new system for inline, continuous, and roll-to-roll production of three-dimensional silicon nanowire anodes that it says will enable it to scale up manufacturing more quickly. Silicon is widely considered to be the next big thing in anode technology – battery-builders and automakers (including Tesla) […]
July 5, 2016

Solid State Ion-Conducting Membrane Could Enable Safer Batteries

Researchers at the University of Maryland have developed a flexible, solid-state, ion-conducting membrane based on a 3D Li-ion conducting ceramic nanofiber network. In “Flexible, solid-state, ion-conducting membrane with 3D garnet nanofiber networks for lithium batteries,” published in the Proceeding of the National Academy of Sciences, the scientists describe a hybrid […]
July 4, 2016

SiNode Systems Wins $4-Million Contract to Develop Silicon-Graphene Anode Materials

The United States Advanced Battery Consortium (USABC) has awarded a $4-million contract toSiNode Systems for the development of advanced anode materials for automotive lithium-ion batteries. The 30-month program will focus on the development of silicon-graphene anode material for vehicle applications, and the development and scale-up of pouch cells. SiNode’s technology […]
July 1, 2016

Kreisel — New Battery Competitor In Home Storage & EVs (In Depth)

Kreisel is an Austrian battery pack manufacturer that has been making battery packs for electric vehicle applications. The company website describes it this way: “The company was founded by brothers Johann, Markus and Philipp Kreisel in 2014 as a small, independent start-up with solid technical know-how and plenty of passion.” The Kreisel pack […]
July 1, 2016

Strem Chemicals Licenses Next-gen Battery Materials From Argonne National Lab

Specialty chemicals firm Strem Chemicals plans to manufacture and distribute nine battery solvents and additives based on intellectual property for next-generation battery materials that it has licensed from Argonne National Laboratory. The materials were invented at Argonne’s Electrochemical Energy Storage Center and scaled at Argonne’s Materials Engineering Research Facility (MERF). […]
June 30, 2016

South Korean Battery Makers Face a Surprise Challenge in China

South Korea’s two largest battery manufacturers, LG Chem and Samsung SDI, have failed to secure battery certifications for electric vehicles in China, according to reports. The setback leaves both companies potentially ineligible to benefit from Chinese state subsidies worth up to as much as 40 percent of the value of […]
June 24, 2016

Panasonic Forges Alliance With Beijing Automotive Group For Chinese Market

This is not a time for global companies to sit around and rest on their laurels. Panasonic is pushing ahead with its partnership with Tesla Motors to build the Gigafactory in Nevada. Now it has also forged an alliance with Beijing Automotive Group (BAIC) to manufacture electric car parts and components […]
June 21, 2016

Johnson Matthey Licenses CAMX-7 Cathode Materials

CAMX Power has granted specialty chemical supplier Johnson Matthey a license relating to its CAM-7 platform of nickel-based cathode materials for use in lithium-ion batteries. The CAM-7 platform covers a range of nickel-rich cathode materials that are designed to offer excellent energy density, cycle life, gassing and power handling, making […]