Rechargeable Magnesium Batteries

n/a


Program:
BEEST
Award:
$3,204,080
Location:
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Status:
ALUMNI
Project Term:
09/01/2010 - 12/31/2012

Technology Description:

Pellion Technologies is developing rechargeable magnesium batteries that would enable an EV to travel 3 times farther than it could using Li-ion batteries. Prototype magnesium batteries demonstrate excellent electrochemical behavior, delivering thousands of charge cycles with very little fade. Nevertheless, these prototypes have always stored too little energy to be commercially viable. Pellion Technologies is working to overcome this challenge by rapidly screening potential storage materials using proprietary, high-throughput computer models. To date, 12,000 materials have been identified and analyzed. The resulting best materials have been electrochemically tested, yielding several very promising candidates.

Potential Impact:

If successful, Pellion Technologies will develop an EV battery that delivers 200% more energy, lasts for thousands of charge and discharge cycles, and costs less than conventional Li-ion batteries.

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. Dane Boysen
Project Contact:
Dr. Robert Doe
Press and General Inquiries Email:
ARPA-E-Comms@hq.doe.gov
Project Contact Email:
rob@pelliontech.com

Partners

Bar-Ilan
Massachusetts Institute of Technology

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Release Date:
02/07/2009