EV Battery Archives - Page 3 of 5

New CATL Batteries To Retain 80% Capacity After 12 Years

Chinese battery giant CATL and NIO have collaborated to work on new technology that will allow EV batteries to still possess 80% of capacity after 12 years of usage. As per the latest partnership with NIO and CATL, new batteries are being developed with substantially longer lifespans than the existing ones. Battery forms the single most expensive component of an electric car. In most cases, this is around 40% of the total cost of an EV. Moreover, Lithium-ion batteries have a tendency to lose capacity after usage. Hence, most carmakers offer a warranty of around 8 years. Thereafter, the battery replacement costs become a huge issue for EV owners. In order to ensure that the batteries last at least as long as the car (or approximately 10-12 years), Chinese battery giant CATL and NIO have established a partnership. They will co-develop a battery which will be able to retain 80% of its capacity even after 12 years of application. You might also like: EVs To Be Cheaper To Produce Than Gas Cars By 2027 – Study New EV Batteries From CATL and NIO NIO has created a pioneering system for keeping electric car batteries healthy. This system looks after three key factors that affect how long batteries last – temperature, how hard they’re used, and how often they’re charged. By using clever technology and a special way of swapping batteries, NIO has made sure these batteries can last a long time. Thanks to smart planning based on lots of data, NIO’s batteries can keep about 80% of their power even after being used for 12 years. Plus, NIO has worked hard to make batteries that last longer. They’ve studied the materials that make up batteries, like the stuff inside the battery that helps it work, and the liquid it’s filled with. This research has led to better batteries. NIO has become really good at all stages of creating batteries, from making the materials to testing them out. They’ve even got over a thousand patents for their technology. More than a hundred of them focus on making batteries last longer. You might also like: Next-Gen EV Batteries From Korean Giants Unveiled At InterBattery 2024 New Technology By CATL CATL and NIO also believe that between 2025 and 2030, there will be around 20 million electric vehicles which will come out of the warranty period. This doesn’t necessarily mean that the vehicles won’t be in an unusable condition. But the owners will have to shell out a bomb to replace the batteries. To tackle, that CATL has been working on innovative methods to prolong the lifecycle of EV batteries to upto 12-15 years. CATL has created new technology to make battery packs last longer. They’ve invented things like a special Solid Electrolyte Interphase film that can fix itself and add more lithium to batteries. By working together, the companies aim to build a partnership that benefits them both in the long run. These batteries will complement NIO’s battery-swapping business immensely. You might also like: Are EVs With 1000 km Range Still A Distant Reality? Learn Electric Cars Says We are still, essentially, in the first leg of the EV revolution when it comes to battery replacement. The mass-market EV sales only commenced a good couple of years ago. Hence, in the next 5-6 years, we will have millions of cases of battery replacements as the EVs run out of OEM warranty. That will be yet another major hurdle for electric cars to overcome in order to get the trust of potential EV buyers. Therefore, if there is a major breakthrough in this regard prior to that, the entire perception about EVs might change. We can only wait and see how things transpire in this case.

Canada and Australia EV Battery Tech Deal

Canada And Australia Join Hands To Tackle China In EV Battery Tech

12 Comments / EV News / By LEC Team

We are aware of the dominance of China when it comes to raw materials, manufacturing and rare minerals and elements required to produce EV batteries. In a bid to tackle the Chinese influence on EV battery tech, Canada and Australia have teamed up. These countries promise to work together to develop key minerals in a ‘clean’ and ‘fair’ manner. Canada and Australia have signed an agreement to collaborate on developing minerals essential for the transition to clean energy, aiming to reduce reliance on China for raw materials and strengthen ties with more cooperative nations. You might also like: 1,300 hp BYD YANGWANG U9 Is Ready To Redefine Electric Supercar Segment Canada And Australia Join Hands To Develop EV Battery Tech The non-binding agreement signifies that the two countries will collaborate to responsibly extract these minerals, enhance transparency, foster partnerships, engage in joint research and development initiatives, and exchange models for industry growth. These details come from a report by Financial Post. Canada aims to establish a battery industry, anticipating a global transition away from fossil fuels over the next three decades. Given that batteries rely on minerals like lithium, nickel, and graphite, the government has sought to bolster its mining sector in recent years. You might also like: Study Shows EVs Can Be More Cost-Effective Than ICE Cars In Some Locations Canadian Policy In 2022 In 2022, Canada implemented a policy aimed at making it more challenging for foreign companies, particularly those from “non-like-minded” nations, to acquire stakes in Canadian mining companies involved in producing critical minerals. As part of this policy, three Chinese companies were instructed to divest their shares from three Canadian lithium companies. Despite this policy, some Canadian junior miners have entered into agreements with Chinese companies over the past year. For example, Montreal-based SRG Mining Inc. agreed to sell 19.4% of its company to Carbon One New Energy Group Co. Ltd. Vancouver-based Solaris Resources Inc. struck a deal with Zijin Mining Group Co. Ltd. to receive $130 million through a private placement of common shares. Additionally, Vancouver-based Osino Resources Corp. agreed to be acquired by Yintai Gold Co. Ltd. for $368 million. You might also like: Next-Gen EV Batteries From Korean Giants To Be Unveiled At InterBattery 2024 Approval Of Federal Government Needed The completion of all three agreements will be contingent upon approval from the federal government under the Investment Canada Act. Canadian operations see significant involvement from Australian miners. For instance, North American Lithium Inc., the primary lithium producer in Canada, is owned by Sayona Mining Ltd. and Piedmont Lithium Inc., both of which are listed in Australia. In 2022, Perth-based Wyloo Metals Pty Ltd., led by Australian billionaire Andrew Forrest, acquired Canadian junior miner Noront Resources Ltd. Wyloo is aiming to establish a nickel mine in Ontario’s Ring of Fire region. Melbourne-based BHP Group Ltd. has committed to investing $14 billion in Saskatchewan to develop one of the world’s largest potash mines. Meanwhile, another Australian mining powerhouse, Rio Tinto Ltd., entered a memorandum of understanding with Canada last year to explore opportunities for the company to contribute to the country’s low-carbon battery industry over the next decade. You might also like: Are EVs With 1000 km Range Still A Distant Reality? Learn Electric Cars Says Such initiatives will not only help countries like Canada and Australia but the entire world as most nations are looking to reduce their dependence on China to source raw materials needed for EV batteries. Hence, it is not just these two countries, but a lot of other large economies trying to set up all the technology needed to manufacture EV batteries in-house. At present, China holds and manufactures a large reserve of materials needed to manufacture Lithium-ion batteries not just for EVs, but for other electronic gadgets too. As global economies focus on self-sustenance going forward, we are likely to see more such cooperations between ‘like-minded’ countries.

Korean EV Batteries at InterBattery 2024

Next-Gen EV Batteries From Korean Giants To Be Unveiled At InterBattery 2024

14 Comments / Battery / By LEC Team

While we always keep talking about revolutionary ideas when it comes to EV batteries, it is intriguing to witness what the industry giants are planning to power future mobility. Some of the world’s biggest Korean electronics companies will demonstrate their next-gen EV batteries at the InterBattery 2024 exhibition in Seoul, South Korea. The event will occur between March 6 and March 8, 2024. The annual trade show attracts top battery players from across the world to showcase their future concepts and the latest technologies to transform the electric car domain. In fact, a total of around 580 companies will present their technologies at this event. It will be co-hosted by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy and the Korea Battery Industry Association. The three top Korean companies we will discuss are LG, SK and Samsung. They will display their innovative work in CTP (Cell-to-Pack), faster-charging batteries and solid-state batter production domains, respectively. You might also like: 1,300 hp BYD YANGWANG U9 Is Ready To Redefine Electric Supercar Segment Next-Gen EV Batteries At InterBattery 2024 LG Energy Solution Ltd. LG Energy, the world’s third-largest EV battery maker, is set to unveil its cell-to-pack (CTP) design, which integrates individual battery cells directly into battery packs, reducing costs and improving energy density. This technology, currently in the spotlight in the EV battery sector, enhances battery stiffness, stability, and heat transfer prevention while streamlining manufacturing processes and reducing parts. LG Energy plans to introduce an advanced battery management system (BMS) at the event, managing battery life cycles and providing safety diagnostics and state estimation software. The system also includes cloud services and solutions for future mobility. During the exhibition, LG Energy will showcase Isuzu Motors Ltd.’s first electric commercial vehicle equipped with its batteries and BMS. The unveiling underscores LG Energy’s commitment to innovation in the EV battery sector, aiming to address cost, energy density, and manufacturing efficiency challenges. You might also like: EV Makers Reconsidering Their Ambitious Plans, Was Toyota Right All Along? SK Innovation Co. SK On, the fifth-largest battery maker globally and a subsidiary of SK Innovation Co., is set to unveil innovative battery technologies at an upcoming event. They will showcase fast-charging batteries and lithium iron phosphate (LFP) models designed for cold weather conditions. The upgraded version of their Super Fast (SF) Battery offers a 9% increase in energy density while maintaining rapid charging capabilities. Additionally, they plan to introduce the SF+ Battery, promising a 15-minute charge time. SK On will also present an LFP battery with enhanced performance in cold climates, featuring a 19% increase in energy density compared to existing models, resulting in improved charging and discharging capacities. Moreover, the company will highlight advancements in cathode active materials manufacturing, including water-free methods and chemistry diversification strategies. They will also introduce their first energy storage system (ESS). These innovations reflect SK On’s commitment to addressing challenges in battery technology, such as charging speed, energy density, and performance in extreme weather conditions. You might also like: Are EVs With 1000 km Range Still A Distant Reality? Samsung SDI Samsung SDI is preparing to announce its timelines for mass-producing solid-state batteries, a revolutionary advancement in the EV sector, while revealing blueprints for batteries of the sixth generation and beyond. These solid-state batteries are heralded as “dream batteries” due to their superior safety and higher energy density compared to traditional lithium-ion models, prompting significant interest and investment in their development across the global cell industry. As the seventh-largest battery manufacturer worldwide, Samsung SDI is ready to present comprehensive integrated energy storage system (ESS) solutions and ESS modules tailored for household use. Additionally, it will showcase a diverse range of cylindrical batteries featuring various specifications. You might also like: 1,300 hp BYD YANGWANG U9 Is Ready To Redefine Electric Supercar Segment Learn Electric Cars Says Now, these players contribute significantly toward the global EVs. Hence, when these introduce new technologies, the entire ecosystem will benefit from them. In general, the companies are focusing on making energy-dense EV batteries without adding too much weight, fast charging times, more efficient BMS and better packaging. All these are crucial aspects of EV battery development. We shall keep an eye out for more such developments in this field.

5 Helpful Tips To Maximize EV Range In Winter And Snow

13 Comments / Featured / By LEC Team

Driving EVs in snowy winters can be immensely challenging. Therefore, it is great to know a few tricks and tips to ensure minimal impact of the cold on your EVs. In this blog post, we shall offer 5 crucial tips to maximize your EV range during winter and snow. Driving an EV can be worrisome anyway due to the lack of adequate charging infrastructure and range anxiety. However, things exacerbate further during the peak winter season when the temperatures drop significantly below 0 degrees Celsius. Unfortunately, all Lithium-ion batteries are sensitive to extreme temperatures. You would’ve noticed this with your smartphones and laptops too. As a result, EVs tend to offer considerably lower range on a single charge during adverse weather conditions. Still, there are a few measures that EV owners could adopt in order to minimize the impact of snow or extremely low temperatures on their EVs. You might also like: Study Shows EVs Can Be More Cost-Effective Than ICE Cars In Some Locations 5 Tips To Maximize EV Range In Winter & Snow Preheat Battery One of the most effective methods to tackle the issue of low range during winter conditions is to pre-heat the battery. Some modern cars come with a heat pump which ensures that the temperature of the battery remains in an optimal range. Also, while the electric car is plugged in, the battery of the car gets in a perfect temperature range even before the owner commences the drive. In that way, the battery won’t draw additional power to do this task of maintaining its optimal temperature. AC Temperature Yet another way to reduce the power consumption of the EV battery during harsh cold is to use the heat produced by the car to warm the cabin. Most people crank up the blower to the maximum in order to heat the cabin space. However, a slightly more nuanced and prudent technique is to use heated seats and steering wheel to keep yourself warm. That will consume much less power from the battery, in turn maximizing the range. Obviously, your EV needs to have this function from the factory. You might also like: 1,300 hp BYD YANGWANG U9 Is Ready To Redefine Electric Supercar Segment Tires A significantly underrated aspect while calculating the range of EVs is the tires. In fact, we feel that car owners don’t pay enough attention to tires in general. In the case of snow or harsh winter conditions, generally, the tire pressure drops. That leads to a situation where higher power is needed to move the car. Hence, more battery is consumed in the process. Therefore, you must ensure that the tire pressure in your car is appropriate at all times. Also, it helps to use dedicated snow tires. Speed Unlike ICE cars where high speed means high engine efficiency, the range of EVs deteriorates exponentially as the speed increases. This is due to higher wind resistance and drag coefficient. The battery gets depleted at a higher rate at high vehicle speeds. Therefore, driving at moderate speeds can boost the overall range of EVs substantially on a single charge. Eco Mode Finally, if your EV comes with drive modes, it is advisable to use Eco mode to maximize range. In peak winters or snowy conditions, you wouldn’t want exquisite performance and high-speed scenarios with your EVs anyway. Therefore, switching to Eco mode will limit the power produced by an EV, in turn, saving the battery from getting empty quickly. Hence, it is a great way to use the drive modes in an EV. You might also like: EV Makers Reconsidering Their Ambitious Plans, Was Toyota Right All Along? Learn Electric Cars Says Extremely low temperatures slow down the reaction inside an EV battery. That is the reason why charging EVs becomes extremely slow, while the battery loses range rapidly. There are many parts of the world where the temperatures get way below 0 degrees Celsius. Arguably, the most prominent market is Norway where around 82% of total EV sales in 2023 were electric cars. Norway experiences one of the harshest winters in the world. Still, due to the aforementioned practices, they are able to navigate their way to ensure that using EVs remains practical and feasible. Hence, it is possible to use EVs effectively even in harsh winters with proper planning.

Are EVs With 1000 km Range Still A Distant Reality?

20 Comments / Battery / By LEC Team

With quick advancements in EV technology, companies are coming up with batteries that can potentially provide a range of around 1,000 km on a single charge. With innovative and rapid development in EV battery technology, EVs with around 1000 km of range look promising and enticing. However, many naysayers argue that you don’t need EVs with such high range due to the battery weight and size concerns. Also, large batteries would require more time to charge. That will add to the already bleak charging infrastructure. But what if there are ways of just increasing the range of EVs without increasing their battery size? You might also like: Nyobolt Battery Can Charge Fully In Just 6 Minutes EVs With 1000 km Range Possible? Scientists at Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH) in South Korea have developed a new technology. It involves using micro-silicon particles and a gel-based electrolyte to enhance the ability of lithium-ion batteries to retain charge for longer periods. Now we know that researchers have been working on silicon to replace graphite for the higher charge capacity of the batteries for a while now. However, the property of nano-scale silicon to expand while charging and discharging has been its typical limitation. To address that, the POSTECH scientists have come up with micro-scale silicon. This, in conjunction with an elastic gel electrolyte, will solve that problem. Inherently, silicon can hold 10 times more lithium ions than graphite. That lends a high battery capacity, in turn increasing the range significantly. Additionally, it prevents the rapid degradation of the battery. In fact, scientists noted that the micro-silicon particles allow a range of 965 km on a single charge. Soojin Park co-authored the research paper and is a professor of Chemistry at POSTECH. He said, “We used a micro-silicone anode, yet we have a stable battery. This research brings us closer to a real high-energy-density lithium-ion battery system.” However, the production process of such micro-scale silicon anodes will be much more complex and expensive. You might also like: How Is Formula E Helping Legacy Carmakers Build Better EV Technologies Learn Electric Cars Says We come across many technological breakthroughs due to so much investments and work being done in EV technology and R&D. This applies mostly to developing new EV battery technologies to ensure long range, short charging times and reducing the use of rare earth elements. We know that not all technologies will survive but we are at a stage where we need to explore all avenues before finally deciding on a handful of methods. That will take years and could be different for difference markets/regions across the globe. We understand that there won’t be a silver bullet anytime soon. Still, as automobile enthusiasts, it is exciting to stay in touch with all that’s happening in this space and be a part of the transformation which will shape and power future mobility.

Nyobolt Battery Can Charge Fully In Just 6 Minutes

22 Comments / Battery / By LEC Team

With each passing year, we witness an immense advancement in EV battery technology and this is a prime example of it. UK-based Nyobolt has come up with an EV battery which can charge fully in a mere 6 minutes. This ultra-fast-charging breakthrough can transform the electric vehicle industry. Such charging speeds are significantly faster than any other technology out there. With lightning-fast charging times, EVs can do with smaller battery packs, in turn, reducing the weight and rare materials used to create those batteries. That is the premise on which this technology is based. You may also like: How Is Formula E Helping Legacy Carmakers Build Better EV Technologies Nyobolt Battery Can Charge Fully In 6 Mins These days, we are encountering large EVs with massive batteries to generate appropriate performance and range. To tackle that, efficiency is at the top of most carmakers’ priority list. That is where the Nyobolt battery comes into the picture. This is a 35 kWh battery pack which offers a range of upto 250 km. It may seem low but if will take just 6 minutes to charge this battery using a 350 kW DC fast charger, EV owners won’t feel range anxiety. Nyobolt has designed this battery in collaboration with design and engineering business, CALLUM and renowned designer Julian Thomson. The latter was inspired by his design of the Lotus Elise. It is one of the most nimble and lightweight electric sportscars around. The Nyobolt battery has been tested for over 2,500 fast charge cycles (enough to cover over half a million kilometres) without significant loss in performance. Nyobolt batteries can also be made for large vehicles like buses or trucks once 1 MW chargers become available. Hence, the brand is future-ready. It will go into production from early 2024. You may also like: Silicone Anode Holds Immense Potential For Next-Gen EV Batteries Sai Shivareddy, CEO at Nyobolt, said, “Unlocking the challenges faced by electric vehicle designers has been key to the development of our breakthrough fast-charging batteries. Previously, enabling a light weight fast-charging vehicle was not possible without compromising its lifetime and so people have been relying on costly and large battery packs in the vehicle. With our unique technology we have achieved a six-minute charge car, and developed smaller battery packs that can deliver more power and charge in less time. “Our partnership with CALLUM shows how adoption of system-level technology innovations can transform the future of electric vehicles and increase accessibility of EVs, including to the 40% of UK households who can’t charge their vehicle at home overnight.” You may also like: How Do Heat Pumps Function In EVs? Learn Electric Cars Says We are perennially excited to discuss new EV technologies including electric car models and battery development. It is becoming undeniable that the future of mobility is electric. While it will take a significant time for mass adoption across the globe, the revolution is most certainly underway. With constant advancements in EV technologies, we will reach a point where range anxiety will be a thing of the past. Until then, we shall keep reporting new techniques to our readers.

Silicone Anode Holds Immense Potential For Next-Gen EV Batteries

21 Comments / Battery / By LEC Team

With relentless innovation in the electric mobility space, we keep encountering new tech every day to tackle the common issues with EVs. The technology pertaining to using Silicone anode for EV batteries has been talked about for quite some time now. Admittedly, there have been a handful of new methods being experimented with, to boost the mass adoption of EVs. In a bid to achieve that, the existing ubiquitous challenges need addressing. These include range anxiety, charging times, battery longevity, and abundant availability of charging infrastructure. The first three things need innovation on the part of carmakers, while the last of these needs cooperation from governments and policymakers. All these aspects need to move together to accomplish the monumental task of transitioning to electric cars. The most prominent and feasible technology in recent times is the use of Silicon anode. Let us glance through the salient features, pros and cons of this technique. You might also like: Stellantis Invests In Affordable Sodium-Ion Battery Technology Silicone Anode In EV Batteries The batteries used in EVs at the moment contain graphite-based anode. Its job is to transfer Lithium ions between the cathode and anode during charging and discharging cycles. However, the issue with graphite is that 90% of the world’s total supply comes from China alone. This includes mining, extracting and refining. Hence, there is too much dependence on a single nation. That is understandably a problem. Additionally, silicone can hold upto 10 times more Lithium than graphite. Now it doesn’t translate to 10 times more efficiency because there are other factors involved. Still, Silicone will enhance the capabilities of Lithium-ion batteries significantly. Hence, the advantages of using a Silicone anode are evident and direct. You might also like: Toyota to Launch Solid-State Battery by 2027 – Here’s The Problem Cons Of Silicone Anode Even though there are massive pros to using it, there are a few downsides too. Due to a difficult combination of battery pulverization and buildup of wasteful byproducts, the carmakers can only integrate 5-10% silicone into anodes. During the process of constant expansion and contraction, the EV battery’s solid-electrolyte-interphase (SEI) layer becomes brittle and causes it to decay at a faster rate. Hence, the life cycle of the battery is reduced. You might also like: Potential and Challenges of Electric Vehicle Battery Swapping Learn Electric Cars Says Lithium-ion batteries, featuring anodes infused with silicon nanoparticles, effectively alleviate the primary concerns that consumers have regarding the adoption of electric vehicles. These batteries extend the vehicle’s range significantly on a single charge, enable faster charging times, and boast a longer lifespan compared to the prevailing industry norm. This means that ordinary consumers can enjoy extended travel distances, faster recharge rates, and prolonged battery life, thus avoiding the inconvenience and expense of frequent battery replacements every few years. Let us see if this technology achieves large-scale commercialization to become the norm in times to come.

How Heat Pumps Function in EVs in Winter Cold Conditions

How Do Heat Pumps Function In EVs?

24 Comments / Featured / By LEC Team

Heat pumps are getting more common in EVs with each passing day as we take a look at how these aid electric cars during extremely cold conditions. In this post, we shall discuss how heat pumps function in EVs in cold weather conditions. We are certain that automobile enthusiasts and EV owners must have read a lot of headlines pertaining to the extremely cold weather conditions in many parts of North America and Europe currently. Note that Lithium-ion batteries are vulnerable and sensitive to temperature changes. Hence, many EV owners are, unfortunately, stranded at homes or charging stations. While we are still not at the point where the battery technology can overcome temperature dependency, there are decent solutions in place. Heat pumps provide the best shot for EVs to tackle extreme cold environments. Sure, snowy conditions with massively low temperatures will still have an impact on EV batteries, but a large part of that impact will be eliminated by the use of heat pumps. That is the reason why so many modern EVs come with a heat pump from the factory. You may also like: New EV Battery From Zeekr To Offer 500 kW Charging How Do Heat Pumps Function In EVs? Depending on the use case, a heat pump can produce heat from any source, which could then be used anywhere in a vehicle. For EVs, it is generally used to heat the battery and make it operate within optimal temperature range, irrespective of the weather outside. Additionally, the heat produced by pumps can also provide air conditioning to warm the cabin and the passengers. Essentially, any component in an EV which requires heat can be fed via the heat pump. The heat pumps use the temperature difference between the outside air and the refrigerant to create a heating effect. In EVs, it can pull cold air from the outside and create warm air from it. This can be used to heat the cabin, which will reduce the energy consumption of the battery. Alternatively, it could also heat the battery itself, which will prepare it before plugging so that it can charge quickly. This will maximize the range. If the battery is too cold, it will take longer than usual to charge too. In fact, many reports suggest a drop in range between 15% and 45% due to cold temperature alone. You may also like: Edmunds Tests The Fastest Charging EV In Real-World Conditions EVs With Heat Pumps Many modern EVs possess heat pumps from the factory itself. Some of the top EVs include Tesla cars, Jaguar I-Pace, BMW’s latest i-series cars, Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Kona, Audi’s new e-tron, Kia EV9 and Niro, Nissan Leaf, Chevrolet Bolt, Toyota Prius, etc. This encompasses electric cars from varied price segments. Therefore, it is evident that carmakers are offering this component as standard across the range. You may also like: How Inductive / Wireless Charging Can Transform The Future Of EVs? Learn Electric Cars Says Recognizing the importance of heat pumps in EVs, car companies will carry on this trend of offering them even on budget EVs going forward. With the kind of predicament we faced with extreme cold in many parts of North America and Europe recently, the need for heat pumps in EVs is evident. EV owners were left stranded at home. Even when they towed their cars to charging stations, the chargers had frozen. They had to wait for hours to get to a charging station. Then they had to wait a lot to charge their EVs due to slow charging speeds. We can only hope that this winter will force the authorities to take this aspect into consideration while developing charging infrastructure going forward. This was also be an eye-opener for EV owners, many of whom were facing such severe conditions with their EVs for the first time ever.

Stellantis Invests Sodium-Ion Battery Technology

Stellantis Invests In Affordable Sodium-Ion Battery Technology

23 Comments / Battery / By LEC Team

The conglomerate is certainly bullish about the potential of the sodium-ion battery technology to power future affordable EVs. Stellantis Ventures announces fresh investment and tie-up with Tiamat for the development of sodium-ion battery technology. Tiamat is a French company that works in developing and commercializing this battery technology. These batteries are prominent for offering a lower cost per kWh. Additionally, as the name suggests, it uses abundantly-available sodium, replacing lithium and cobalt for production. This enables enhanced sustainability and material sovereignty. You may also like: Does the Future of EVs Rest on Sodium Ion Batteries? Stellantis Invests In Sodium-Ion Battery Technology Sodium ranks as the sixth most abundant element in the Earth’s crust. Notably, its proximity to Lithium on the periodic table results in nearly analogous properties to Lithium. The abundant availability of Sodium translates to a considerably lower cost compared to Lithium. Currently, the predominant obstacle to the widespread adoption of electric vehicles lies in their cost, apart from challenges related to charging infrastructure. Tiamat The French firm recently received the honour as one of 11 top-performing technology start-ups with the Stellantis Venture Awards in 2023. In fact, it boasts the title of being the first company in the world to have recently commercialized a sodium-ion technology in the electrified product, as per the official press release by Stellantis. Ned Curic, Stellantis Chief Engineering and Technology Officer said, “Exploring new options for more sustainable and affordable batteries that use widely available raw materials is a key part of our ambitions of the Dare Forward 2030 strategic plan that will see us reach carbon net zero by 2038”. He added, “Our customers are asking for emissions-free vehicles that offer a combination of robust driving range, performance and affordability. This is our North Star, as Stellantis and its partners work today to develop ground-breaking technologies for the future.” You may also like: 5 New EV Battery Technologies – Aluminium-ion to Niobium Learn Electric Cars Says We have already reported the pros and cons of Sodium-ion batteries in one of our previous posts. It is definitely among one of the most compelling methods to reduce dependence on materials like Cobalt (its mining has ethical and humane challenges in Congo) and Nickel. Furthermore, there will never be a shortage of Sodium. Sure, a lot of work is required to make it energy-dense to be used in cars without compromising on performance. But with the passage of time and new investments, these obstacles can be overcome. Let us keep a close eye on further developments in this space.

New EV Battery From Zeekr To Offer 500 kW Charging

21 Comments / Battery / By LEC Team

The unprecedented DC fast charging rate allows replenishing 500 km (310 miles) of range in just 15 minutes. The new EV battery from Zeekr is capable of offering lightning-fast 500 kW DC fast charging. They are calling it the ‘Golden Battery’. This is unequivocally much higher than the fastest charging speeds on offer today, which hover around 360 kW. The Chinese car marque’s new battery technology will support 800 V architecture and adopt LFP (Lithium Ferro Phosphate) cell chemistry to provide upto 500 kW speeds. You might also like: Edmunds Tests The Fastest Charging EV In Real-World Conditions New Zeekr EV Battery Charging Technology While 800 V architecture is offered by other carmakers like Porsche already, 500 kW DC charging speeds are unheard of. The key behind this technology lies in its innovative cell chemistry. Traditionally, LFP batteries have lower energy density in comparison to NMC (Nickel-Manganese-Cobalt) batteries. However, engineers at Zeekr used “newly-developed materials” and “simplified structural design” to construct the new battery pack. This has resulted in a higher volume utilization of the new battery pack at 83.7%. For reference, CATL’s NMC Qilin battery offers 72% volume utilization, as per Autocar. Hence, it is a clear advantage which addresses the energy density issue typically associated with battery packs with LFP chemistry. You might also like: How Inductive / Wireless Charging Can Transform The Future Of EVs? How Safe Is This Battery? At the moment, the Blade Battery by BYD is considered the safest, as per the standard tests. Similarly, this battery from Zeekr has undergone nail penetration test, submersion in saline water at 10% concentration for 48 hours test, 1000° C fire for an hour test, -45° temperature for 8 hours test, 3 km dragging in mud water and debris, getting run over by a 22-ton road roller and a free fall from a height of 10 m. After all this rigorous abuse, the battery was still working. This is a video showcasing these tests without any fire or smoke. Zeekr is owned by Geely. This means that the other car companies under Geely will also benefit from this battery. This includes the likes of Polestar, Lotus, Volvo and Smart. However, the first EV to get this battery will be the Zeekr 007 premium electric sedan. In fact, we might see it next month in some markets. You might also like: Mercedes, BMW Exceed EPA Range in Real-World Test, Tesla Falls Short Learn Electric Cars Says While this is yet another innovative technology, we know that there is no wide-scale infrastructure available which is needed to support such ultra-fast charging speeds. There are only a few charging stations across the world at the moment which can support 500 kW charging capabilities. Most of these are in China and the plans to increase such charging stations are already in place. Going forward, Ionity plans to install 7,000 350 kW chargers in Europe by 2025 and Electrify America will install 10,000 chargers (1,800 charging stations) by 2026 including many 350 kW chargers. Even with 350 kW DC fast chargers, the speeds would be around 15 minutes for 10-80%. As a result, the waiting times will come down drastically. Still, we understand that there is a long time to go before all this becomes the standard. Nevertheless, the signs are all positive.

EV Battery

© Copyright 2022 Learn Electric Cars. All Rights Reserved.