FIFTY YEARS AFTER the birth of the rechargeable lithium-ion battery, it’s easy to see its value. It’s used in billions of laptops, cellphones, power tools, and cars. Global sales top US $45 billion a year, on their way to more than $100 billion in the coming decade. And yet this transformative invention took nearly two decades to make […]
Lithium News
Laser pulses may help develop next-gen, high-capacity batteries
A recent development out of King Abdullah University of Science and Technology may help engineer an improved anode material in next-generation batteries. In a paper published in the journal Small, KAUST researchers demonstrated the use of laser pulses to modify the structure of a promising alternative electrode material known as MXene, boosting its energy capacity and other key properties. In […]
New Zinc Batteries Take On Dunkelflauten & Dendrites, Too
More renewable energy is pouring into the grid, sparking the demand for new, low-cost energy storage systems. A European consortium has come up with new a solution that could fit the bill, in the form of grid-scale zinc batteries that double as green hydrogen generators. That’s a big step up for zinc, which up until […]
Cheap proton batteries compete with lithium on energy density
RMIT engineers say they’ve tripled the energy density of cheap, rechargeable, recyclable proton flow batteries, which can now challenge commercially available lithium-ion batteries for capacity with a specific energy density of 245 Wh/kg. That’s as compared to the ~260-odd Wh/kg delivered by the lithium-ion batteries in a current Tesla Model 3 battery pack, but without […]
Researchers develop breakthrough prototype of stretchable fabric-based lithium-ion battery
Most people already know and appreciate the capabilities of smartphones. Now imagine the possibilities offered by smart spacesuits, uniforms and exercise clothes. The future of wearable technology has just received a big boost, thanks to a team of University of Houston researchers who designed, developed and delivered a successful prototype of a fully stretchable fabric-based […]
GM is making a new Chevy Bolt EV with an Ultium battery
General Motors announced today that it’s developing a next-generation Chevrolet Bolt based on the automaker’s Ultium battery and drive technology to deliver “great affordability, range and technology.” It’s following three electric vehicles Chevrolet is already scheduled to launch this year: the Equinox and Blazer SUVs and the Silverado pickup truck. GM CEO Mary Barra said […]
Battery storage sites in King County may become more regulated
Some King County Council members are worried about the hazards of battery farms. According to Siemens Energy, battery energy storage systems, or BESS, are rechargeable batteries that can store energy from different sources and discharge it when needed. BESS consist of one or more batteries and can be used to balance the electric grid, provide […]
Stellantis confirms second US battery factory with Samsung SDI
Stellantis announced early Monday that it plans a second U.S. battery plant to help support American EV production. With a memorandum of understanding signed between Stellantis and Samsung SDI Monday, the companies seek to start production at the facility in 2027 and “an initial annual production capacity of 34 gigawatt-hours.” But the location remains undisclosed […]
Toyota is planning a new EV with a 900-mile range and 10-minute charging time: ‘The holy grail of battery vehicles’
Toyota just unveiled plans for new electric vehicle battery technology that could offer up to 900 miles of driving range, and many are calling it a potential game-changer. At a recent briefing, the company announced big news about new solid-state EV battery tech. Saying it simplified production of the material used to make solid-state batteries, […]
Engineers use radiation suppression to develop better wireless charging
A better way to wirelessly charge over long distances has been developed at Aalto University. Engineers have optimized the way antennas transmitting and receiving power interact with each other, making use of the phenomenon of “radiation suppression.” The result is a better theoretical understanding of wireless power transfer compared to the conventional inductive approach, a […]
