Electric Vehicles: Battery Insights and Weekend Reads

Last week the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) announced that 22 battery research programs have received $36 billion via the Robust Affordable Next Generation Energy (RANGE) Storage Systems program. The projects aim to accelerate affordable battery technology for electric vehicles but from a systems approach, rather soley on improving the density of a battery.

RANGE projecs aim for cheaper materials, such as nanomaterials.  One of those companies, Longmont, Colorado-based Solid Power was featured here last week andBattery Flow Concept from GE. (Source: GE) ARPA-E’s deputy director, Dr. Cheryl Martin is excited about the technology implications with this approach.

According to the Solid Power site, its "innovation lies in its cathode chemistry that, when combined with conductive additive and small amounts of solid-state electrolyte, forms a composite cathode whose capacity is nearly triple that of the cathode capacity used in lithium-ion batteries. Solid Power also points out its safer battery materials as a cost advantage, requiring less in terms of safety “extras” in the packaging of battery system—also equaling less weight. It site states its “materials are inherently non-volativle and non-flammable.”

For a deeper insight into the RANGE program, read Energy Collective's excellent interview with Dr. Cheryl Martin of ARPA-E.  See link below: 

1. Reinventing Batteries for Electric Vehicles: Interview with ARPA-E Deputy Director Cheryl Martin

2. GE Flow Battery Aims for 240 Mile EV Range and Beyond

A new concept from GE brings together a flow battery and fuel cell, for continuous recharging while driving--not receiving electricity from the grid and storing it.