Stellantis
The automotive concern Stellantis has released a new semi-solid-state battery for electric cars with an energy density of 375 Wh/kg.
Typically, the energy density of Li-ion batteries for electric cars with liquid electrolyte is 200-300 Wh/kg. The new battery is characterized by the use of a stable gel-like material instead of the liquid electrolyte typical of traditional lithium-ion batteries. This significantly improves the safety and stability of the battery.
Battery from Stellantis capable of charging from 15% to 90% in 18 minutes at room temperature. The battery also has a high power output with a discharge current of up to four times the capacity per hour (4C value).
The battery has demonstrated stable operation at temperatures ranging from -30°C to 45°C, which is much better than conventional Li-ion batteries. It was tested on the Dodge Charger Daytona and Mercedes-Benz EQS.
In the case of the Dodge Charger Daytona, the battery was tested for compliance with operational requirements. By installing the battery in the Mercedes-Benz EQS, Stellantis developers demonstrated its claimed efficiency and range.The new battery uses a semi-solid-state polymer-based cell.
Semi-solid-state cells stabilize the anode, which is traditionally considered the most vulnerable link. Fully solid-state batteries are still not mass-produced due to the high cost of production. Therefore, semi-solid-state batteries offer a compromise.
Currently, the production of such batteries is 10-30 times more expensive than their lithium-ion counterparts. However, with scaling up and switching to mass production, costs can be significantly reduced
New batteries will reduce vehicle weight by 500-900 kg. And since for every 450 grams of weight saved, about $5 can be saved in production costs, the total savings per vehicle can reach $2,500 to $10,000.
The new battery, once fully developed, could also solve the biggest problems of electric vehicles, such as range, charging time, weight, safety, and cold-weather performance-all at once.
Source: Interesting Engineering