News

April 7, 2016

Stanford Team Develops Li-Metal Anodes

Lithium-metal anodes are the favored solution for next-generation Li-air or Li-sulfur batteries for various reasons, including their high specific capacity (theoretically tenfold higher than graphite). However, safety issues resulting from dendrite formation and instability caused by volume expansion have slowed the development of commercially viable solutions. In “Composite lithium metal […]
April 1, 2016

ORNL Seeks US Manufacturers to License New Carbon Fiber Process

Researchers at the DOE’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory have demonstrated a production method that they estimate will reduce the cost of carbon fiber by as much as 50% and the energy used in its production by more than 60%. After analysis and prototyping by industrial partners, ORNL is making the […]
March 31, 2016

Researchers Use Superionic Conductors as Electrolytes for Solid-State Batteries

Researchers at the Tokyo Institute of Technology, in collaboration with Toyota and two other research institutions, have designed and tested solid-state batteries using a novel type of solid electrolyte. In “High-power all-solid-state batteries using sulfide superionic conductors,” published in Nature Energy, Yuki Kato and team members explain the advantages of […]
March 21, 2016

Porsche Considers Bosch, Panasonic to Supply EV Batteries

An electric Porsche based on the Mission E concept shown at the Frankfurt auto show is in the production pipeline, and the company is considering bids from Panasonic and Robert Bosch to supply the battery, Bloomberg reports. According to anonymous sources, Panasonic’s package would be cheaper, but Porsche’s neighbor Bosch […]
March 15, 2016

A Closer Look at Electrolytes in Advanced Batteries

The electrolytes in advanced batteries are based on incredibly complicated formulations. If you calculated all of the possible combinations of solvents, salts and additives while trying to find the optimal ratios for just one electrolyte formulation, it would add up to an extraordinary number of possibilities. Because it plays such […]
March 15, 2016

Panasonic & Bosch Compete For Porsche Mission E Contract

Both Panasonic and Bosch are vying for the battery supply agreement for the Porsche Mission-E electric vehicle, according to recent reports. Porsche AG is currently in the process of considering the two bids — with Panasonic Corporation offering a lower bid than Robert Bosch GmbH, but of course more complex […]
March 8, 2016

Faraday Future Awarded Patent for FF Echelon Inverter

EV startup Faraday Future (FF) has applied for more than 100 patents over the last year. This week it announced that its first one has been granted, for a new assembly process called “FF Echelon Inverter.” The inverter is designed to be small and simple. FF claims it achieves 20-30% […]
March 6, 2016

Daimler Investing €500 Million Into New Lithium-Ion Battery Factory In Germany

The German company Daimler AG will be putting €500 million into the creation of a second lithium-ion battery production facility in Germany, according to recent news from the company. This new facility will produce lithium-ion batteries to be used in electric vehicles and hybrids released under the Mercedes-Benz brand, reportedly. […]
March 4, 2016

Sweden Takes Aim At 2045 Carbon Neutrality

A parliamentary committee in Sweden has created a proposal outlining how the nation could be carbon neutral by 2045. Mainly, it would achieve this huge goal by eliminating domestic emissions by 85% from 1990 levels. The last 15% could be offset by making investments in international projects which cut carbon emissions. If this […]
March 3, 2016

LG Chem to Deliver Complete Battery Pack for Chrysler Pacifica Minivan PHEV

Korean battery maker LG Chem will supply the 16 kWh Li-ion battery pack system and controls for the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid minivan. LG Chem Power CEO Denise Gray recently noted that LG Chem’s cells, modules and batteries are currently powering some 490,000 vehicles, spanning all levels of electrification from […]
March 2, 2016

UN Aviation Agency Bans Shipment of Li-ion Batteries on Passenger Aircraft

The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) has prohibited shipments of lithium-ion batteries as cargo on passenger aircraft, responding to concerns by pilots and airplane manufacturers that they pose a fire risk. A 2015 paper published by an aircraft manufacturing trade group found that existing fire-fighting systems on airliners could not […]
March 1, 2016

Second Life: Spiers New Technologies Develops Advanced Battery Classification Techniques

Spiers New Technologies (SNT) is just over a year old, but its founder has been focused on developing the market and technology for secondary-use batteries as long as anyone in the business. Dirk Spiers is one of the more passionate figures in the EV industry. Like many entrepreneurs, he seems to […]