Battery Development

Stellantis and US company Zeta Energy will jointly develop lithium-sulphur batteries with lower mass than current lithium-ion batteries.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) will invest 50 million dollars in the Low-cost Earth-abundant Na-ion Storage (LENS) consortium for a five-year period to advance sodium-ion batteries.

In Japan, Honda has presented a demonstration line equipped with all necessary manufacturing steps for solid-state batteries. It is set to begin mass production before the end of the decade.

BMW Group has opened the first section of its battery test center in Wackersdorf, Germany. By the end of 2025, cells, high-voltage batteries, and more will be tested on an area of over 8,000 square meters.

Chinese battery manufacturer CATL has increased its investment in solid-state battery research and development and is focusing on sulfide technology, recently having started test production of 20-ampere-hour prototypes.

Amprius Technologies has delivered A-sample cells to the United States Advanced Battery Consortium (USABC) for the development of a low-cost, fast-charging silicon nanowire battery.

Stellantis is working to integrate solid-state batteries from US company Factorial into a demonstration fleet of Dodge Charger Daytona vehicles. These are based on the STLA Large platform and are expected to be launched by 2026. The aim is to validate Factorial’s battery technology in real-world driving conditions. The company is not disclosing the size of the fleet. Factorial’s proprietary FEST solid-state battery technology is presented by Stellantis as promising. According to the company, it offers an energy density of more than 390 Wh/kg and is said to be characterised by lower weight and improved performance compared to conventional lithium-ion batteries. The STLA Large platform is part of Stellantis’ Dare Forward 2030 strategic plan, and includes brands such as Jeep, Dodge, Chrysler, Alfa Romeo and Maserati. The initiative is part of an existing partnership between Stellantis and battery technology company Factorial, in which Stellantis is investing $75 million through 2021. Source:https://www.stellantis.com/en/news/press-releases/2024/october/stellantis-and-factorial-take-next-step-to-accelerate-the-future-of-electric-vehicles-with-solid-state-battery-technology

General Motors Ventures has announced a $10 million investment in materials science company Forge Nano. Forge Nano specializes in atomic layer deposition and will work with GM to explore potential applications of this technology for batteries. Coating Technology to Reduce Battery Costs Atomic Layer Deposition, marketed by Forge Nano as ‘Atomic Armor’, is a surface technology that deposits extremely thin layers on battery materials to control their chemical properties and structure at the atomic level. Under the partnership, Forge Nano will develop coatings for GM that are intended to both improve battery performance and reduce costs. In particular, the collaboration will focus on coatings for cathode materials. Prototypes of lithium-ion battery cells will be built at Forge Nano’s headquarters in Thornton, Colorado, to demonstrate the potential of the technology. Source:https://www.forgenano.com/forge-nano-receives-10m-investment-from-gm-ventures-to-pursue-gm-battery-material-enhancements-for-future-electric-vehicles/

Hyundai Motor and Kia, together with Hyundai Steel and EcoPro, have launched a four-year project to develop a new production technology for lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery cathodes.

Swiss battery developer Leclanché SA has introduced the XN50, the world’s first lithium-ion cell featuring niobium-based anode material XNO from Echion Technologies. This innovative cell is specifically designed for heavy-duty applications in rail transport, shipping, and mining. The development was part of a collaboration between Leclanché and Echion Technologies. Benefits of the XN50 Lithium-Ion Cell: Higher Energy Density and Longer Lifespan Compared to conventional lithium-titanate-oxide technologies (LTO), the XN50 offers 50% higher energy density. It also boasts an exceptionally long lifecycle of more than 10,000 charge cycles. After 1,000 charge/discharge cycles at 45°C, the cell experiences less than 3% capacity loss, and its resistance increases by less than 15%. According to Leclanché, the XN50 could be a commercially viable solution to replace traditional LTO technologies in energy storage systems. Environmentally Friendly XN50 Manufacturing Another key advantage of the XN50 cell is its environmentally friendly production. It uses a water-based cathode formulation that is PFAS-free, resulting in reduced environmental impact. Source:https://www.leclanche.com/leclanche-launches-xn50-worlds-first-li-ion-commercial-cell-featuring-echion-technologies-xno/