Scientists at the Centre for Solar Energy and Hydrogen Research ( ZSW ) in Ulm, Germany have developed a new long-lasting lithium-ion battery that is capable of outperforming other batteries currently in circulation today.
Cycle stability is an important determinant of a battery’s lifetime – and it’s in this regard that the battery developed at ZSW is a world-class performer. Having so far achieved 10,00 full cycles – one cycles involves fully charging the cell and then completely draining it – the battery is still able to hold more than 85% of it’s charge.
Other factos such as power density are on par with batteries produced by Asian manufacturers. One notable difference is that the long-lasting lithium-ion battery uses active materials that only originate from German companies. ZSW was responsible for designing the cells, developing the manufacturing process, and producing a small sample in the 18650-format.
These promising first steps have created a foundation for manufacturing large-size pouch cells and large-size prismatic cells – intended for use in electric vehicles and as solar power storage systems. This kind of sustainability is especially important in the automotive industry – Lithium-ion batteries need to be able to do their work in cars for at least ten years without the battery capacity dropping to less than 80%.
The long-lasting lithium-ion battery has a power densityof 1,100 watts per kilogram, which means it meets international standards for this type of power source. It’s also an indicator of how much power per weight can be generated – in an electric car, this figure can lead to shorter charging times and excellent acceleration capability.
ZSW also signed a five-year cooperation agreement on May 29th with industry partners such as BMW AG and Daimler AG. It states that researchers will develop new manufacturing processes and materials ready for mass production that suits industry standards.
How long do you think before this kind of technology is being used more often? What would you use a long-lasting lithium-ion battery for?
