Reinventing the Edison Battery

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Program:
BEEST
Award:
$2,971,774
Location:
Fall River, Massachusetts
Status:
ALUMNI
Project Term:
10/01/2012 - 09/30/2015

Technology Description:

Xilectric is developing a totally new class of low-cost rechargeable batteries with a chemistry analogous to the original nickel-iron Edison battery. At the turn of the 20th century, Thomas Edison experimented with low-cost, durable nickel-iron aqueous batteries for use in EVs. Given their inability to operate in cold weather and higher cost than lead-acid batteries, Edison’s batteries were eventually dismissed for automotive applications. Xilectric is reviving and re-engineering the basic chemistry of the Edison battery, using domestically abundant, environmentally friendly, and low-cost metals, such as aluminum and magnesium, as its active components. Xilectric’s design would be easy to manufacture and demonstrate longer life span than today’s best Li-ion batteries, enabling more widespread use of EVs.

Potential Impact:

If successful, Xilectric’s reinvented Edison battery would demonstrate lower-cost and longer life than today’s best Li-Ion batteries at 25% of the manufacturing cost.

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 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. Ping Liu
Project Contact:
Steven Weiss
Press and General Inquiries Email:
ARPA-E-Comms@hq.doe.gov
Project Contact Email:
steve@xilectric.com

Partners

Electrosynthesis Company, Inc.

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Release Date:
02/07/2009