News

A handful of EV battery companies dominate global EV battery production. One of those companies is LG Chem, which supplies batteries to nearly every automaker under the sun. Recent news indicates that LG Chem has increased its 2020 production target from 70 GWh to 90 GWh, approximately 29%. “If producing […]

This fall, AKASOL is set to begin mass producing batteries for Mercedes-Benz’s eCitaro. AKASOL’s first-generation battery systems will contain ten battery modules for up to 243 kWh per vehicle and a charging rate of up to 300 kW. In order to make this possible, AKASOL uses a water-cooling system to keep its batteries […]

Solid-state batteries are theoretically safer, more stable, and have higher energy densities than conventional Li-ion batteries with liquid electrolytes. Unfortunately, they also tend to have relatively high resistance at the interfaces between their electrodes and solid electrolytes, which can limit the rate of charging and discharging. In order to solve […]

Battery specialist Sila Nanotechnologies has received $70 million in Series D funding from Sutter Hill Ventures, Next47 (backed by Siemens), and Amperex. Sila Nano will use the funding for the development and commercialization of its silicon-dominant anodes. Overall, Sila has raised $125 million from investors including Bessemer Venture Partners, Chengwei […]

Porous electrodes have been 3D printed in the past using extrusion processes in which a strand of material is extruded from a heated nozzle. Interdigitated, or clasped, structures created with this technique provide space for ion flow, but their limited geometries are quite inefficient. Carnegie Mellon University’s new research has developed a […]

Fast charging cold Li-ion batteries comes with the risk of lithium plating. When metallic lithium is formed in a battery, it can severely reduce battery lifespan and increase instability. Researchers from Penn State have suggested a solution to that problem that can provide 15-minute fast charging and a twelve-year battery lifespan in temperatures […]

Johnson Matthey is currently building a demonstration plant with a capacity of 1,000 metric tons to showcase its proprietary eLNO lithium nickel oxide battery material. The plant will be used for R&D and will also produce material samples. The company intends to use the facility to build its market presence and […]

The earlier than anticipated onset of successful, fairly affordable, long-range electric vehicle (EV) demand has caught both battery manufacturers and car companies by surprise — even the most bullish of car companies. Carmakers like GM, Renault, Hyundai, Daimler, BMW, and VW have all seen demand exceed capabilities and expectations, and battery shortages are evident. As […]

New research from the University of California San Diego has found one of the causes of voltage fade in lithium-rich layered oxides (LRLO).  LRLO is a promising candidate as a cathode material as it can provide 50% more capacity than current alternatives. However, voltage fade reduces the energy capacity of this material […]

Hyundai’s venture capital division, Cradle, is investing in Massachusetts-based battery materials developer Ionic Materials. Ionic says its patented solid polymer material enables solid-state batteries that are inherently safe, high in energy density and operational at room temperature. The special properties of Ionic’s polymer electrolyte also support lithium-ion cells with little to no […]

Panasonic is ramping up its 2170 cell production “more than 30%” at the Gigafactory by the end of 2018 in response to increased demand for Tesla’s Model 3, the Japanese publication Nikkan reports. The report noted that to deliver the increased production, Panasonic will add three lithium-ion battery cell production lines, for […]

Tesla’s Gigafactories, BYD’s mega-factories and CATL’s plans for expansion into Germany are but the leading edge of a global rush into lithium ion battery production that will have the world running on lithium in no time. It’s being compared to the oil rush as companies throw tens of billions of dollars into […]