Like many people who follow EVs and batteries I have a certain degree of skepticism whenever I read about a new battery design that claims to offer major advantages over existing in-production batteries. But when I read about this new battery design I took it more seriously than I usually do because of the name associated with the publication: Dr. John B. Goodenough, the inventor of the modern Lion battery. Yes, that is a real name, not a joke. See John B. Goodenough - Wikipedia
Here is the article abstract Alternative strategy for a safe rechargeable battery - Energy & Environmental Science (RSC Publishing)
And here is a summary https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/02/170228131144.htm
QUOTE: "Cost, safety, energy density, rates of charge and discharge and cycle life are critical for battery-driven cars to be more widely adopted. We believe our discovery solves many of the problems that are inherent in today's batteries," Goodenough said. The researchers demonstrated that their new battery cells have at least three times as much energy density as today's lithium-ion batteries. A battery cell's energy density gives an electric vehicle its driving range, so a higher energy density means that a car can drive more miles between charges. The UT Austin battery formulation also allows for a greater number of charging and discharging cycles, which equates to longer-lasting batteries, as well as a faster rate of recharge (minutes rather than hours).
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So, at least a threefold increase in energy density, stable over a large number of charge cycles, and faster charge rates. The article does not say what exact battery type this is compared to, but one assume the comparison is to the best currently in production Lion batteries.
The new battery design uses solid-glass electrolytes that do not form dendrites at high charge rates and retain high conductivity down to -20C and below as well as maintaining low cell resistance after 1,200 charge cycles. And the new design can use sodium instead of lithium, reducing cost.
Of course, now the challenge is to figure out how to manufacture the new battery design in quantity and inexpensively.
Here is the article abstract Alternative strategy for a safe rechargeable battery - Energy & Environmental Science (RSC Publishing)
And here is a summary https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/02/170228131144.htm
QUOTE: "Cost, safety, energy density, rates of charge and discharge and cycle life are critical for battery-driven cars to be more widely adopted. We believe our discovery solves many of the problems that are inherent in today's batteries," Goodenough said. The researchers demonstrated that their new battery cells have at least three times as much energy density as today's lithium-ion batteries. A battery cell's energy density gives an electric vehicle its driving range, so a higher energy density means that a car can drive more miles between charges. The UT Austin battery formulation also allows for a greater number of charging and discharging cycles, which equates to longer-lasting batteries, as well as a faster rate of recharge (minutes rather than hours).
------------------------------------------
So, at least a threefold increase in energy density, stable over a large number of charge cycles, and faster charge rates. The article does not say what exact battery type this is compared to, but one assume the comparison is to the best currently in production Lion batteries.
The new battery design uses solid-glass electrolytes that do not form dendrites at high charge rates and retain high conductivity down to -20C and below as well as maintaining low cell resistance after 1,200 charge cycles. And the new design can use sodium instead of lithium, reducing cost.
Of course, now the challenge is to figure out how to manufacture the new battery design in quantity and inexpensively.
