News

January 29, 2019

Higher Crystallinity Results in Better Solid-state Batteries

Scientists at the Tokyo Institute of Technology have been working on solid-state batteries, which are theoretically safer, more stable, and have higher energy densities than conventional Li-ion batteries with liquid electrolytes. They have recently made progress towards overcoming a major limitation of solid-state batteries: high resistance at the interface between the […]
January 25, 2019

Tesla’s Battery Leadership Protected In Secrecy

Originally published on EVANNEX. By Charles Morris By now, regular readers of this column are well aware that we (along with most other writers who focus on electric vehicles) consider the threat of the “Tesla killer” to be no threat at all. Yes, Big Auto is producing excellent EVs, some of which are […]
January 23, 2019

VW to Join Tesla in the Charging and Energy Storage Businesses

Volkswagen has announced plans to set up a new brand called Elli – for “electric life” -to sell EV charging stations, stationary storage batteries and electric services such as clean power. Elli, which will initially be focused in Europe, will sell various home charger models, including two 11 kW wall […]
January 22, 2019

Tesla Raises Supercharger Prices Worldwide, Flirts With Chinese Battery Manufacturers

Last week, Tesla announced it was increasing the cost of Supercharging around the world. Even though Elon Musk has said the Tesla charging network is not intended to be a profit center for the company, the company is under significant pressure to show a profit — no matter how slight — going forward. To further that […]
January 20, 2019

Toyota & Panasonic Form Battery Manufacturing Partnership

Toyota has been slow out of the gate in the race to build cars with plugs, preferring to rest on its laurels as the first company to sell conventional hybrid cars in large quantities. Other than that, it has cast its lot with fuel cell technology, managing to sell hundreds of its […]
January 15, 2019

Johnson Controls and Toshiba Partner to Pair Li-ion and Lead-acid in Dual-battery Systems

Johnson Controls and Toshiba have partnered to develop low-voltage lithium-ion batteries, which they’ll pair with existing lead-acid batteries for dual-battery systems. Paired systems require fewer powertrain alterations than other electrified powertrains, and achieve up to eight percent better fuel efficiency than conventional systems, according to Johnson Controls. Global information provider […]
January 14, 2019

Amada Miyachi Europe Provides Welding Equipment for New LIGHT Battery

Manufacturing batteries for EVs requires specialized equipment, and battery makers require different systems depending on battery type, tab material and thickness, and production volume. Amada Miyachi Europe is a company that provides a range of resistance and laser welding equipment for just this purpose. Most recently, the company provided resistance […]
January 13, 2019

SK Innovation Will Increase Investment In US Battery Manufacturing Plant To $5 Billion

Construction will begin this year on the factory in Commerce, Georgia, an hour northeast of Atlanta. When completed, it will employ 2,000 workers and produce an annual volume of lithium-ion batteries equal to 9.8 gigawatt-hours worth of batteries annually. Completion is scheduled for 2022. SK Innovation supplies batteries to Mercedes-Benz, […]
January 9, 2019

Toshiba Prepares to Rev Up Production of SCiB Batteries

Toshiba is removing its SCiB battery business from the Toshiba Infrastructure Systems & Solutions (TISS) subsidiary, and making it an independent business unit within Toshiba. By positioning the business as an independent operation, Toshiba says it hopes to remove layers of management and allow for more rapid decision-making. TISS will […]
January 3, 2019

Next-Battery Moves a Step Closer to Commercialization

Shanghai-based EV maker Lvchi has partnered with Next-Battery to fast-track the commercial rollout of Next-Battery’s battery technology. At its Ukraine facility, Next-Battery is producing cathode prototypes with ultra-porous metal oxides and a lithium-infused nanostructured surface. The company’s proprietary process significantly increases the surface area of the metal oxides in the cathode, which […]
January 1, 2019

24M Raises $21.8 Million to Accelerate SemiSolid Battery Development

Cambridge, Massachusetts-based 24M has raised $21.8 million in Series D funding, which it will use to accelerate production of its SemiSolid lithium-ion cells for the EV market. Ceramics manufacturer Kyocera and global trading firm Itochu led the financing round. Previous investors, including North Bridge Venture Partners, also participated. 24M introduced […]
December 26, 2018

LISA Project Aims to Develop Li-S Battery Cells with Solid-state Non-flammable Electrolytes

Lithium-sulfur is seen as one of the most promising chemistries for the next generation of batteries, and the UK battery firm OXIS Energy has been developing the technology for some time. Now OXIS has announced that it will be one of 13 European partners in the Lithium Sulfur for Safe Road Electrification […]