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Battery technologies for a fast charging and changing world

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Is an aluminium-sulphur battery the way out of the lithium quagmire?​


Researchers based out of MIT in the US say they’ve invented a new kind of battery, made from abundant and low-cost materials, that could compete with lithium-ion batteries and help plug the gaps caused by renewable intermittency.

The new battery uses the elements aluminium and sulphur as its two electrodes, with an electrolyte made of molten salt in between, and is described in a new paper by an international team of researchers in the journal Nature.
 
Country Lad said:

Is an aluminium-sulphur battery the way out of the lithium quagmire?​


Researchers based out of MIT in the US say they’ve invented a new kind of battery, made from abundant and low-cost materials, that could compete with lithium-ion batteries and help plug the gaps caused by renewable intermittency.

The new battery uses the elements aluminium and sulphur as its two electrodes, with an electrolyte made of molten salt in between, and is described in a new paper by an international team of researchers in the journal Nature.
Click to expand...
Good evening Country Lad
On the back of your post, which rcw1 found most interesting, came across this article on aluminium-sulpur battery. By Sinead Barry • Updated: 01/09/2022 - 10:50. Not sure when originally published.

www.euronews.com

This low cost battery could cut the cost of green energy in your home

Scientists at MIT have invented a new battery to back-up renewables, at a sixth of the cost of the standard model.
www.euronews.com www.euronews.com

Have a very nice evening.

Kind regards
rcw1
 
SirRumpole said:
Vanadium redox flow batteries.

Invented 20 years ago at the UNSW but ignored until now.

Provides long term, large scale storage for big applications like grids.

From the biased ABC..

www.abc.net.au

Invented in Australia, this battery never degrades and can last 'forever'. So why haven't we heard of it?

A type of battery invented by an Australian professor in the 1980s is being touted as the next big technology for grid energy storage. Here's how it works.
www.abc.net.au www.abc.net.au
Click to expand...
"From" the biased ABC or "Placed" in the biased ABC? I have noticed a bit of vanadium news lately...

Maybe hotcopper and twitter aren't doing their part to pump up share prices enough?
1675672861729.png
 
in this article, where the author must clearly be paid by the word, there are some points relevant to ASX stocks that are involved in mineral extraction for EV and other battery needs.

Excerpt:

"The market research firm Adamas Intelligence published a free study: State of Charge: EVs, Batteries and Battery Metals. This is a good starting point for self-directed investors. They include estimates of the actual battery materials deployed in worldwide EV fleets. This is detailed research of the bottom-up kind that is difficult to do at home.

"You will get more from reading the study, but here are some takeaways:
  • Average battery capacity in kWh is growing year on year.
  • Materials used per car is also growing year on year.
  • Car units are growing year on year.
The bottom line is simple to relate:
Battery Materials Used per Year = (Cars per Year) X (Battery Materials per Car)
Click to expand...
This means that battery materials usage is growing faster than the car market is growing.

The estimated, point-in-time as of 2022 H1, intensity of usage per car was:
  • Lithium Carbonate Equivalent (LCE) 18.8kg/car
  • Nickel 14.1kg/car
  • Cobalt 3.0kg/car
  • Manganese 3.8kg/car
  • Graphite 28.4kg/car
if you multiply that by EV sales, measured in millions of units, you get a lot of material. The growth rate in EV sales varies a bit but climbed rapidly in the last three years. Tesla has a stated target to grow at around 50% CAGR per year through 2030....

Full article:

www.livewiremarkets.com

Why I like the good Carbon (Graphite)

Lithium dominates discussion for battery metals. We like Syrah Resources, which produces the good Carbon called Graphite. It is not a metal.
www.livewiremarkets.com www.livewiremarkets.com
 
Dona Ferentes said:
in this article, where the author must clearly be paid by the word, there are some points relevant to ASX stocks that are involved in mineral extraction for EV and other battery needs.

Excerpt:

"The market research firm Adamas Intelligence published a free study: State of Charge: EVs, Batteries and Battery Metals. This is a good starting point for self-directed investors. They include estimates of the actual battery materials deployed in worldwide EV fleets. This is detailed research of the bottom-up kind that is difficult to do at home.

"You will get more from reading the study, but here are some takeaways:
  • Average battery capacity in kWh is growing year on year.
  • Materials used per car is also growing year on year.
  • Car units are growing year on year.
The bottom line is simple to relate:

This means that battery materials usage is growing faster than the car market is growing.

The estimated, point-in-time as of 2022 H1, intensity of usage per car was:
  • Lithium Carbonate Equivalent (LCE) 18.8kg/car
  • Nickel 14.1kg/car
  • Cobalt 3.0kg/car
  • Manganese 3.8kg/car
  • Graphite 28.4kg/car
if you multiply that by EV sales, measured in millions of units, you get a lot of material. The growth rate in EV sales varies a bit but climbed rapidly in the last three years. Tesla has a stated target to grow at around 50% CAGR per year through 2030....

Full article:

www.livewiremarkets.com

Why I like the good Carbon (Graphite)

Lithium dominates discussion for battery metals. We like Syrah Resources, which produces the good Carbon called Graphite. It is not a metal.
www.livewiremarkets.com www.livewiremarkets.com
Click to expand...

Its a bit of a ramble but did talk about graphite I know the people behind the startup IG6 which has a way to go before production but the take away is currently there isn't enough graphite to meet the future demand note the graphite has to be processed before use in lithium batteries.
 
SirRumpole said:
Batteries from bugs, using air for powering devices.

thenewdaily.com.au

A 'natural battery' generates electricity from 'thin air'

A “natural battery” – an enzyme that can convert air into electrical energy – has been found by Monash University researchers.
thenewdaily.com.au thenewdaily.com.au
Click to expand...
Nature as evidenced so often, already holds a lot of the keys to homo sapien problems.

So looking to the perhaps not so distant future.
The cynic in me asks, will we be exporting these bugs to other worlds?
Moreover, do similar bugs already exist off world?

Very, very interesting stuff this and sure wish the boffins well in patenting the technology.
 
Craton said:
Nature as evidenced so often, already holds a lot of the keys to homo sapien problems.

So looking to the perhaps not so distant future.
The cynic in me asks, will we be exporting these bugs to other worlds?
Moreover, do similar bugs already exist off world?

Very, very interesting stuff this and sure wish the boffins well in patenting the technology.
Click to expand...
Even more interesting if it was scalable to grid level.
 
Sandy Munro interviews two execs from Zeta batteries about their latest technology in solid state battery development.
As usual, the issues will be scaling up the jelly roll cylinders, but they make some most interesting points about flamability, expansion, dendrites, and use of carbon nanotubes.
Its got the lot.

Mick
 
Came across this Press Release on major improvements to Li On air batteries. The fact that the battery has already been tested over 1000 cycles with minimal degradation is very promising. The headline suggests a 1000 mile range. More practically they would probablly just use 25-30% of the current batteries for the same range. Also it has been developed in the leading Research institute in the US. This is not vaporware.

​

New design for lithium-air battery could offer much longer driving range compared with the lithium-ion battery​


The team’s new solid electrolyte is composed of a ceramic polymer material made from relatively inexpensive elements in nanoparticle form. This new solid enables chemical reactions that produce lithium oxide (Li2O) on discharge.

“The chemical reaction for lithium superoxide or peroxide only involves one or two electrons stored per oxygen molecule, whereas that for lithium oxide involves four electrons,” said Argonne chemist Rachid Amine. More electrons stored means higher energy density.

The team’s lithium-air design is the first lithium-air battery that has achieved a four-electron reaction at room temperature. It also operates with oxygen supplied by air from the surrounding environment. The capability to run with air avoids the need for oxygen tanks to operate, a problem with earlier designs.

The team employed many different techniques to establish that a four-electron reaction was actually taking place. One key technique was transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of the discharge products on the cathode surface, which was carried out at Argonne’s Center for Nanoscale Materials, a DOE Office of Science user facility. The TEM images provided valuable insight into the four-electron discharge mechanism.

Past lithium-air test cells suffered from very short cycle lives. The team established that this shortcoming is not the case for their new battery design by building and operating a test cell for 1000 cycles, demonstrating its stability over repeated charge and discharge.

“With further development, we expect our new design for the lithium-air battery to also reach a record energy density of 1200 watt-hours per kilogram,” said Curtiss. “That is nearly four times better than lithium-ion batteries.”

New design for lithium-air battery could offer much longer driving range compared with the lithium-ion battery | Argonne National Laboratory

www.anl.gov www.anl.gov
 
This could be another step change in battery technology that will reduce manufacturing costs by 17-30%
For once it is not a Chinese or Tesla innovation.

LG sees battery breakthrough by 2028 that has eluded Tesla​



407215.jpg&w=1000&q=100&f=jpg&t=1.jpg

An LG Energy Solution battery pack for an electric vehicle using cell-to-pack technologies displayed at the InterBattery exhibition in Seoul on March 6 | Bloomberg


By Heejin Kim and Gabrielle Coppola
Bloomberg

SHARE

Jul 4, 2024



LG Energy Solution is aiming to commercialize what’s been described as a game-changing battery-making technology by 2028, opening a path for the Korean cell manufacturer to become more competitive with Chinese rivals.

Companies from Tesla to Samsung SDI are working on dry-coating technology, a process that aims to replace the energy-intensive wet process for making cathode and anode electrodes — a key component of electric car batteries. The search for cheaper and more environmentally friendly ways to produce batteries is becoming increasingly urgent as electric vehicle demand cools.

"Among battery competitors, LG is the top” in terms of dry-coating technology, Kim Je-young, who became LG Energy Solution’s chief technology officer in December, said in an exclusive interview at the company’s headquarters in Seoul. "We started 10 years ago.”

LG plans to complete a pilot production line for its dry-coating process in the fourth quarter, and start full-scale production in 2028, Kim said. It’s the first time LG has disclosed a timeline for commercializing the technology. Kim estimates the dry method can lower battery manufacturing costs by between 17% and 30%.

www.japantimes.co.jp

LG sees battery breakthrough by 2028 that has eluded Tesla

It aims to commercialize the dry-coating technology for making electrodes that can allow savings on energy, equipment costs and space.
www.japantimes.co.jp www.japantimes.co.jp
 
Saw this story on PV Magazine. Certainly ups the ante on High Voltage battery storage. Can store up to 150kwh power. Sounds like it would work for many industrial/commercial applications.


Weiheng Ecactus releases three-phase all-in-one battery storage system​

The Chinese manufacturer’s new battery energy storage system consists of an inverter ranging in size from 5 kW to 13 kW and a storage system of 10 kWh to 30 kWh. Up to five units can be connected in parallel.
July 31, 2024 Lior Kahana
AGAVE-TH场景-1200x675.jpg

The Agave TH storage system
Image: Weiheng Ecactus

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From ESS News
Chinese battery supplier Weiheng Ecactus has introduced a new three-phase high-voltage hybrid all-in-one battery energy storage system (BESS).

Dubbed the Agave TH, the BESS consists of an inverter ranging in size from 5 kW to 13 kW and a storage system of 10 kWh to 30 kWh. In addition, the system includes a power control unit and an optional heating module that reportedly offers a wide operating range.

“This advanced inverter supports a maximum of 2 times photovoltaic over-configuration, ensuring optimal utilization of your solar panels,” the company said in a statement. “With a maximum DC input current of 16/26A per string, it is compatible with 182 mm and 210 mm PV modules. Its ultra-wide MPPT voltage range captures every ray of light from dawn to dusk, maximizing energy collection.”

The storage of the system is based on lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries of 5 kWh, and users can configure it to include any number of batteries between two and six. In addition, five units can be connected in parallel, covering a capacity of up to 150 kWh. According to the company, the inverter offers up to 110% three-phase unbalanced output.

“Featuring an integrated plug-in terminal that replaces traditional hand-wiring, this system ensures a hassle-free setup,” the company highlighted. “With guided quick connectors between battery modules, the auto-plug functionality activates once stacked, eliminating the need for cables.”

The BESS's operating temperature is between -20 C and 55 C. According to the company, it has a built-in fire protection module that can eliminate safety risks within 15 seconds. “Fully self-developed battery management system (BMS) and energy management system (EMS), integrating cloud-native technology and machine learning platform, provide prediction, planning, control and protection in the whole life cycle of the device,” the company added.
 
China is leading the world in battery technology. Everyone else is playing catch up.
The big disaster has been North Volt. This story explores that situation

How Europe’s big hope in EV batteries came unstuck​


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Chief Executive Officer Peter Carlsson has blamed the state of the wider industry.

Europe’s ambitions to lead the world in green technologies risk fizzling out in the face of China’s dominance. The outlook is especially bleak when it comes to electric vehicle batteries, an important driver of the low-carbon economy.

Sweden’s Northvolt AB was long seen as a potential European rival to the giant Chinese companies that make most of the world’s electric vehicle power cells. Now the business is fighting for its survival after a series of operational blunders wrecked its growth plans.

How did Northvolt’s plans unravel?​

If it was going to have a chance of competing with Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. and other Chinese battery giants, Northvolt needed to grow fast.
The company amassed billions of dollars in debt and equity, secured using $55 billion of contracts from some of Europe’s biggest car and truck makers. In early 2022, before its first site in Sweden had even begun commercial production, Northvolt managers were already planning a new factory in Germany. A further plant in Canada was announced the following year.
Making this high-stakes strategy pay off would require flawless execution. Instead, the flagship Swedish factory was plagued by operational setbacks and challenges in trying to ramp up production while keeping a lid on costs.

After selling its first battery cells in 2022, Northvolt’s losses tripled in 2023 to $1.03 billion. The company tried to woo investors that year with plans for a stock-market listing at a $20 billion valuation. But its growth strategy was already coming apart.
This year, to stave off a financing crunch, Northvolt announced a retrenchment, scrapping two cathode material production facilities in Sweden, shuttering a research and development subsidiary in California and seeking out new investors for a project in Poland.
This wasn’t enough to reassure its investors. Two weeks later, the company said it was laying off 20% of its workforce — affecting 1,600 employees in Sweden — and further scaling back R&D. It also cut into its core, revenue-generating business by pausing an expansion at the flagship Swedish plant and sending that unit into bankruptcy. The German and Canadian plants also face delays.

How did it go so wrong?​

The decision to grow aggressively in a range of battery technologies threw up a breathtaking number of operational hurdles. The plans encompassed not just a rapid scale-up of complex cell manufacturing, but the production of components such as cathode materials, the construction of new factories and a joint-venture with carmaker Volvo Car AB. Northvolt was even developing lithium-metal batteries for electric aircraft.
Bad luck played a part: There were reports of problems with machinery imported from China. And by moving so fast, the company appears to have compromised on quality, leading to a high number of faulty cells that couldn’t be used. In June, BMW AG canceled a €2 billion ($2.2 billion) order due to quality problems. Volkswagen AG’s truckmaking arm, Scania CV AB, complained about slow deliveries from Northvolt at the start of 2024.

Northvolt has also faced a string of health and safety issues, including worker injuries and reports of toxic chemical leaks.

Are Northvolt’s managers entirely at fault?​

While this was arguably a crisis of Northvolt’s own making, Chief Executive Officer Peter Carlsson has blamed the state of the wider industry.
There’s certainly global overcapacity in the sector: Companies have announced $1.1 trillion in investments in battery cell and component production between 2024 and 2030, analysts at BloombergNEF said in June. That’s more than four times the $242 billion needed to meet expected demand.

The mismatch signals a prolonged period of low prices that will favor suppliers with the lowest cost base. The excess of manufacturing capacity is driving record-low prices in the Chinese domestic market, where lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery cells can be bought for close half the average global price of $95 per kilowatt hour. There’s also a supply glut in battery materials.

Why is Northvolt so important for European industrial policy?​

The European Union’s Net Zero Industry Act aims for the region to be producing 550 GWh of batteries by 2030, up from 110 GWh in 2023.

Northvolt isn’t the only battery producer in Europe. South Korean and Chinese companies also have factories to serve European assembly plants being retooled to make EVs. But European leaders have made clear they want the region to be a hub for clean technologies, not a manufacturing outpost for companies that repatriate the profits to Seoul and Shanghai.
Northvolt has been their best shot at building a big, thriving EV battery business headquartered in Europe.
Were the company to fail, ongoing progress in battery technology could make it even harder for another European company to attempt the same feat. China’s CATL employs 21,000 engineers in R&D alone — a figure three times greater than Northvolt’s entire workforce.
China supplies about 80% of the world’s lithium-ion batteries, and is home to six of the world’s 10 largest EV battery makers, according to Bloomberg Intelligence. Chinese companies are even more dominant in battery components, such as cathodes, anodes, separators and electrolytes.
And China isn’t Europe’s only problem: The US, Canada, Japan, South Korea, India and Indonesia are also looking to lure investments to develop their battery industries.

What about other European EV battery makers?​

It’s not Northvolt alone that is struggling. The entire industry faces a delicate moment after governments began to scale back the financial incentives they doled out to encourage drivers to buy their first EV.

As a result, EV sales growth is slowing and the auto industry is having second thoughts about some of the investment plans predicated on a rapid shift to electric.
UK battery startup Britishvolt Ltd. fell into administration in 2023 before it could open a planned £3.8 billion ($5.1 billion) site. Italy recently cut funding for a battery-plant project backed by Stellantis NV and Mercedes-Benz Group AG due to the recent softening of EV demand.
If Northvolt can’t turn it around, EU governments would come under pressure to effectively admit defeat and open the door for Chinese players to establish more factories in Europe in order to keep the region’s EV transition alive. "

How Europe's big hope in EV batteries came unstuck ​




fortune.com
 
basilio said:
China is leading the world in battery technology. Everyone else is playing catch up.
The big disaster has been North Volt. This story explores that situation

China supplies about 80% of the world’s lithium-ion batteries, and is home to six of the world’s 10 largest EV battery makers, according to Bloomberg Intelligence. Chinese companies are even more dominant in battery components, such as cathodes, anodes, separators and electrolytes.
And China isn’t Europe’s only problem: The US, Canada, Japan, South Korea, India and Indonesia are also looking to lure investments to develop their battery industries.
Click to expand...

A good read, but I'm not so sure that "everyone" is "playing catch up" to the Chinese, or that they have "six of the world's 10 largest EV battery makers". Though I'd agree that they have six of the world's largest battery manufacturers building in China.

Global Top 10 Battery Companies
  1. BYD Co., Ltd.
  2. Clarios
  3. Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Ltd. (CATL)
  4. Exide Industries Ltd.
  5. GS Yuasa Corporation
  6. LG Chem Ltd.
  7. Panasonic Corporation
  8. Samsung SDI Co., Ltd.
  9. Tesla, Inc.
  10. Tianjin Lishen Battery Joint-Stock Co., Ltd.

www.blackridgeresearch.com

Global Top 10 Battery Companies [2023]

Do you want to learn more about the world’s top companies in battery innovation and manufacturing? Read on.
www.blackridgeresearch.com www.blackridgeresearch.com
 
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