Rechargeable Zinc-Air Batteries

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Program:
BEEST
Award:
$2,127,672
Location:
Portland, Oregon
Status:
CANCELLED
Project Term:
10/01/2010 - 06/30/2012

Technology Description:

ReVolt Technology is developing a rechargeable zinc-air battery that could offer 300-500% more storage capacity than today’s Li-Ion batteries at half their cost. Zinc-air batteries could be much more inexpensive, lightweight, and energy dense than Li-Ion batteries because air—one of the battery’s main reactants—does not need to be housed inside the battery. This frees up more space for storage. Zinc-air batteries have not been commercially viable for use in EVs because they typically cannot be recharged, complicating vehicle “refueling”. ReVolt has designed a system whereby the battery’s zinc-based negative electrode is suspended in liquid and passed through a tube that functions as the battery’s positive electrode. This allows the device to charge and discharge just like a regular battery.

Potential Impact:

If successful, ReVolt’s zinc-air battery would provide 300-500% more power than a traditional EV battery at less than half the cost, facilitating the widespread adoption of EVs.

Security:

Increased use of EVs would decrease U.S. dependence on foreign oil—the transportation sector is the dominant source of this dependence.

Environment:

Greater use of EVs would reduce greenhouse gas emissions, 28% of which come from the U.S. transportation sector.

Economy:

This battery would enable an EV to travel from Chicago to St. Louis (300 miles) on a single charge, for less than $10 on average.

Contact

ARPA-E Program Director:
Dr. Dane Boysen
Project Contact:
Harvey Mancey
Press and General Inquiries Email:
ARPA-E-Comms@hq.doe.gov
Project Contact Email:
hm@revolttechnology.com

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Release Date:
02/07/2009