Multifunctional Cells for Electric Vehicles

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Program:
RANGE
Award:
$1,998,913
Location:
Tempe, Arizona
Status:
ALUMNI
Project Term:
11/25/2013 - 12/31/2015
Website:

Technology Description:

Arizona State University (ASU) is developing an innovative, formable battery that can be incorporated as a structural element in the vehicle. This battery would replace structural elements such as roof and side panels that previously remained passive, and incapable of storing energy. Unlike today’s batteries that require significant packaging and protection, ASU’s non-volatile chemistry could better withstand collision on its own because the battery would be more widely distributed throughout the vehicle so less electricity would be stored in any single area. Furthermore, ASU’s battery would not use any flammable components or high-voltage modules. The chemistry minimizes conventional protection and controls while enabling it to store energy and provide structure, thus making vehicles lighter and safer.

Potential Impact:

If successful, the ASU’s battery would allow for a lighter-weight vehicle that could store more energy, resulting greater driving range and a lower vehicle cost overall.

Security:

The mass adoption of EVs would diminish the demand for petroleum, dramatically reducing U.S. dependence on foreign oil.

Environment:

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

Economy:

Technological advancements from the RANGE program could enable EVs to travel significantly further on a single charge at a much lower cost than that of current EVs and conventional vehicles.

Contact

ARPA-E Program Director:
Dr. Grigorii Soloveichik
Project Contact:
Dr. Cody Friesen
Press and General Inquiries Email:
ARPA-E-Comms@hq.doe.gov
Project Contact Email:
cfriesen@asu.edu

Related Projects

• Arizona State University (ASU) - Multifunctional Cells for Electric Vehicles
• BASF - Rare-Earth Free EV Batteries
• Bettergy - Beyond Lithium-Ion Solid-State Battery
• Cadenza Innovation - Low-Cost Electric Vehicle Battery Architecture
• Ceramatec - Advanced Lithium-Sulfur Batteries
• EnZinc - Rechargeable, Long-Life, Zinc-Air Battery
• General Electric (GE) Power & Water - Water-Based Flow Battery for EVs
• Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) - Nanoelectrofuel Flow Battery for Electric Vehicles
• Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) - Metal Hydride-Air Battery
• National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) - Renewable Organics for Flow Battery
• Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) - Impact-Resistant Electrolyte
• Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) - Light-weight Battery with Built-in Safety Features
• Pennsylvania State University (Penn State) - Structural Battery Power Panels
• Princeton University - Long-Life Rechargeable Alkaline Batteries for EVs
• Purdue University - Impact-Tolerant Electric Vehicle Batteries
• Solid Power - All Solid-State Lithium-Ion Battery
• Stanford University - Multifunctional Battery Chassis Systems
• University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) - Long-Life, Acid-Based Battery
• University of California, San Diego (UC San Diego) - Multifunctional Battery Systems for Electric Vehicles
• University of Houston - Low-Cost Water-Based Electric Vehicle Batteries
• University of Maryland (UMD) - Solid-State Lithium-Ion Battery With Ceramic Electrolyte
• University of Maryland (UMD) - Multiple-Electron Aqueous Battery

Release Date:
02/15/2013