Long-Range Li-Ion Batteries for Electric Vehicles
Technology Description:
Inorganic Specialists’ project consists of material and manufacturing development for a new type of Li-Ion battery material, a silicon-coated paper. Silicon-based batteries are advantageous due to silicon’s ability to store large amounts of energy. Yet, the technology has not been able to withstand multiple charge/discharge cycles. The thinner the silicon-based material, the better it can handle multiple charge/discharge cycles. Inorganic Specialists’ extremely thin silicon-coated paper can store 4 times more energy than existing Li-Ion batteries. The team is improving manufacturing capability in two key areas: 1) expanding existing papermaking equipment to continuously produce the silicon-coated paper, and 2) creating machinery that will silicon-coat the paper via a moving process, to demonstrate manufacturing feasibility. These manufacturing improvements could meet the energy storage criteria required for multiple charge/discharge cycles. Inorganic Specialists’ silicon-coated paper’s properties have the potential to make it a practical, cost-effective transformative Li-Ion battery material.
Potential Impact:
If successful, Inorganic Specialists’ Li-Ion battery would provide more energy storage capacity and range for EVs than today’s state-of-the-art batteries—facilitating a shift from gasoline-fueled vehicles to EVs.
Security:
Widespread use of EVs would help reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil because our transportation sector is the dominant source of this dependence.
Environment:
EVs would reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, 28% of which come from cars, trucks, and other gasoline-powered vehicles.
Economy:
This project would enable EVs that could travel from Chicago to St. Louis (300 miles) on a single battery charge, costing $10 on average.
Contact
ARPA-E Program Director:
Dr. Dane Boysen
Project Contact:
David Firsich
Press and General Inquiries Email:
ARPA-E-Comms@hq.doe.gov
Project Contact Email:
dwfirsich@inorganicspecialists.com
Partners
Ultramet
EMTEC
Southeast Nonwovens
EaglePicher
Related Projects
Release Date:
10/26/2009