The energy storage technology company BioSolar has claimed a
breakthrough in the field of lithium-ion batteries, according to a
recent press release. To be more specific, the company has claimed that a technology that
it’s currently developing can significantly expand the life, increase
the energy capacity, and lower the costs associated with lithium-ion
batteries.
According to the BioSolar (based on internal analyses), a battery
model built using the company’s new technology could double the range of
a Tesla electric vehicle (EV) while costing roughly 4 times less than
its current battery. As well, it could reportedly improve the lifespan
of the battery and improve charging times. The company thinks that the
technology could allow for a $100/kilowatt-hour milestone to be crossed —
potentially leading to far greater EV sales numbers. (Note that it’s
widely assumed Tesla’s battery packs cost well under $400/kWh — closer to $200/kWh or $300/kWh — so that makes the “4 times less” claim quite questionable.)
BioSolar’s CEO, David Lee, recently stated:
A battery contains two major parts, a
cathode and an anode, that function together as the positive and
negative sides. Today’s state-of-the-art lithium-ion battery is limited
by the storage capacity of its cathode, while the anode can store much
more. Inspired by nature, we are developing a novel cathode based on
inexpensive conductive polymers and organic materials that can fully
utilize the storage capacity of conventional anodes. By integrating our
high capacity, high power and low-cost cathode with conventional anodes,
battery manufacturers can create a super lithium-ion battery that can
double the range of a Tesla, power an iPhone for 2 days straight, or
store daytime solar energy for nighttime use.
BioSolar’s novel high capacity
cathode is engineered from a polymer, similar to that of low cost
plastics and can hold 2 electrons for each molecular unit. Instead of
conventional cathodes that use lithium-ion intercalation chemistry,
which is inherently slow, the company’s technology exploits the fast
redox-reaction properties of polymers to enable rapid charge and
discharge.
Hmm…. Those certainly are BOLD claims, aren’t they?
Even for a battery company, they seem to be quite “optimistic” claims to
my eyes. Perhaps there’s some truth to them, though? We’ll find out
eventually I suppose.
The company is currently supporting a research program at the
University of California, Santa Barbara, that’s working to further
develop the technology.
http://cleantechnica.com/2015/06/25/biosolar-claims-huge-lithium-ion-battery-technology-breakthrough-better-capacity-longer-life-lower-costs-reportedly/