https://www.thecooldown.com/green-tech/alsym-green-battery-renewable-energy-grid-storage/ Startup releases first-of-its-kind low-cost battery with unbelievable power: 'Taking on the world's greatest challenge' "This helps reduce pricing and supply volatility." by Rick Kazmer December 22, 2024 A Massachusetts battery startup has a product that is seemingly a dream come true for the sector. That's because the Malden-based company bills its pack as being a solution for grid, home, business, and even data center storage with fire-safe and sustainable tech. It fascinatingly leverages common water in the chemistry, according to a news release. At issue is the need to store intermittent renewable energy from the wind and sun. Lithium-ion packs, like Tesla's Megapack, provide reliable storage. But lithium-ion units carry rare, yet serious, fire risks, detailed by the National Fire Protection Association. They are also reliant on foreign and expensive supply chains for key components. Alsym Green is touted as a solution on seemingly all fronts. "Our team is taking on the world's greatest challenge," Alsym officials stated on the team's website. The battery works much like a lithium-ion pack, with ions that move between two electrodes through an electrolyte. But Alsym replaces toxic flammable materials with benign water and "nonhazardous additives." It's part of an internal structure that avoids conditions that can lead to cataclysmic thermal runaway, when battery cells begin to overheat uncontrollably. The scenario can result in fire. Importantly, the materials are all available stateside or from reliable trade partners, all per the company. "This helps reduce pricing and supply volatility that may arise from geopolitical tensions or supply chain disruptions caused by global pandemics or other unforeseen events. It also helps to support the development of battery manufacturing infrastructure in the U.S., E.U., and beyond," Alsym stated on its website. Alsym Green also checks the major boxes as a long-duration energy storage unit. The battery's complete discharge range is a flexible two to 110 hours. It can recharge fully in less than four hours. The pack's versatility allows customers to manage operations to best meet energy demand, taking advantage of electricity market opportunities. What's more, the setup provides up to five days of power for blackout protection, a growing concern as our planet's overheating is linked by NASA experts to increased severe weather risks. The troubling storms can cause mass outages. To that end, the pack can retain 92% of its charge for more than 30 days, all per Alsym. MIT News reported that Alsym Green packs haven't yet matched the storage capacity per pound of lithium-ion units. But the company is at work on chemistry to achieve that parity. Sustainably storing renewable energy is a task that has resulted in numerous unique ideas in addition to traditional batteries. Systems that leverage ice, water, and gravity are feasible solutions. It's important to note that big savings can even result from small moves. Simply replacing 40 old light bulbs in your house with LEDs can cut significant air pollution and save you hundreds of dollars a year in power expenses. At Alsym, CEO Mukesh Chatter said in an Interesting Engineering story that his storage unit is also a good option for manufacturing facilities, citing steel and chemical plants where flammable lithium packs can be a hazard. "We're highly configurable, and that's important because depending on where you are, you can sometimes run on two cycles a day with solar, and in combination with wind, you could truly get 24/7 electricity," Chatter said in the report. © 2024 THE COOL DOWN COMPANY. All Rights Reserved.
Samsung and Apple working on new battery tech to compete with Chinese OEMs https://www.neowin.net/news/samsung...ew-battery-tech-to-compete-with-chinese-oems/ Chinese smartphone OEMs are popular for packing large batteries into their smartphones. In contrast, major players like Samsung and Apple typically opt for traditional battery capacities inside their phones. While Samsung's M-series and F-series include a few models with batteries as large as 7,000mAh, this trend doesn't extend to its flagship series. However, if the latest report is to be believed, then we may soon see bigger batteries inside Samsung and Apple smartphones. It is tipped that Chinese smartphone manufacturers plan to launch more phones with bigger batteries as large as 7,000mAh to 8,000mAh starting next year. Reports suggest that Chinese OEMs aim to achieve this without adding bulk to their smartphones. In response, Samsung and Apple are ramping up their efforts, and are reportedly, developing new battery technologies to keep up with their Chinese rivals. Samsung is said to be at the forefront and is directly involved in the development of advanced battery materials. The South Korean giant is working on improving anode and cathode materials to produce an entirely new battery composition, which would offer better performance and efficiency. One of the technologies includes significantly increasing the silicon content in the batteries. While higher silicon levels often lead to battery expansion, it is said that Samsung has found a solution to tackle these issues. Apple is also entering the fray and is following a strategy similar to Samsung's. However, Apple may not make use of the rumored new battery tech until after 2026. It remains unclear if Samsung will use the advanced battery tech inside its flagship models or limit it to its mid-range and budget offerings.
China flexes lithium dominance with plans for tech-export curbs https://www.mining.com/web/china-plans-export-curbs-on-battery-parts-mineral-technology/ China is planning tougher scrutiny on exports of technology to make battery materials, as Beijing looks to protect its grip on a crucial supply chain amid rising global trade tensions. The government has proposed adding various technologies — some used for lithium refining and battery chemicals production — to its list of items that are subject to export controls, according to a notice seeking public opinion from the Ministry of Commerce on Thursday. The plan appears aimed at protecting innovations that China has developed during its rise to dominate global battery and electric-vehicle production. It comes against a backdrop of burgeoning competition with the US in everything from critical minerals to semiconductors. “This shows the government is aware of the importance of keeping these advanced lithium technologies secret,” said Yu Yakun, analyst at Cofco Futures Co. “Overseas investments with such technologies will be under stricter scrutiny.” The proposed curbs target a selection of processes used to make battery-grade lithium chemicals, including direct lithium extraction, an emerging method in which China has considerable expertise. It also covers some specific types of chemical compounds used in making cathodes that are crucial to the performance of batteries. The latest move is subject to public feedback and could change, but it left battery companies in China and the rest of Asia scrambling to understand the potential implications. There’s a focus on what the tighter scrutiny might mean for China’s growing overseas investments in the battery supply chain, especially in the case of joint ventures with foreign companies. The restrictions “may not affect the projects which are currently operational or under construction” outside China but they might impact some future investments, said Peng Xu, an analyst at BloombergNEF. The new export controls would cover technology for making certain types of lithium-iron-phosphate cathode, as well as lithium-iron-manganese-phosphate cathode and iron phosphates. Last year, China put the know-how for making rare earth metals under similar restrictions, which subject overseas shipments to a higher degree of scrutiny. The measures are relatively narrow in scope, for example targeting only the more advanced types of the named products. Battery cathodes can differ widely in performance and cost, and China has spearheaded efficiency gains in the lithium-iron-phosphate, or LFP, units that are gaining popularity in the global EV industry. The proposal aims to preserve China’s leadership in the “LFP battery supply chain in high-end products rather than imposing comprehensive export restrictions on LFP technology,” Citigroup Inc. analysts including Jack Shang wrote in a note. Shares in lithium and material suppliers fell amid a wider selloff in mainland stocks. Major producer Ganfeng Lithium Group Co. dropped 3%, while Tianqi Lithium Corp. fell 2.4%. Hubei Wanrun New Energy Technology Co. fell 7.3%. Last month, China announced a ban on exports of several materials with high-tech and military applications, a tit-for-tat move after the US government escalated technology curbs on Beijing. China is the top global supplier of dozens of critical minerals, and concerns about its dominance have been mounting in Washington and other capitals. Gallium, germanium, antimony and superhard materials are no longer allowed to be shipped to America, while sales of graphite have been placed under tighter controls. The metals are used in everything from semiconductors to satellites and night-vision goggles. The latest measure on battery materials is part of efforts to “strengthen the management of technology imports and exports,” China’s official Xinhua News Agency said. The public can provide feedback on the proposals until Feb. 1, it added.
https://electrek.co/2025/01/14/amprius-unveils-high-power-sicore-cell-for-evs-drones-more/ Amprius unveils high-power SiCore cell for EVs, drones, more Michelle Lewis Jan 14 2025 3 Comments Amprius Technologies just unveiled a new SiCore cell built on its Silicon Anode Platform that boosts battery performance for EVs, electric aviation, and drones. In late 2024, battery manufacturer Amprius delivered pre-production 10Ah samples to six customers for testing, and full commercialization is set for early 2025. If real-world tests deliver as promised, this battery could enable its customers to achieve superior range, speed, and reliability. Amprius’s new SiCore cell delivers an energy density of 370 Wh/kg and a power output of over 3000 W/kg. That means it packs a ton of energy while also delivering power in bursts – ideal for scenarios where endurance and speed are equally critical. The Fremont, California-based company says what makes its new SiCore cell unique is its flexibility. It handles high discharge rates of up to 10C without active cooling and 15C with cooling, making it a solid choice for extreme conditions. Think drones flying longer missions or electric aircraft nailing energy-draining takeoffs and landings. According to Amprius customer Teledyne FLIR, which specializes in unmanned aerial systems, this battery could be a game-changer for its drones. Tung Ng, vice president of unmanned Systems North America at Teledyne FLIR, said, “We are eager to evaluate how this breakthrough technology can meet the rigorous needs of our defense, security, and industrial customers, enabling longer runtimes and increasing operational flexibility.” EVs, advanced air mobility, and eVTOL aircraft also stand to benefit from the SiCore cell’s balance of high energy and high power. Dr. Ionel Stefan, Amprius’ CTO, described it as a breakthrough in the tricky trade-off between power and energy density, calling it “a new power possibility for high-demand applications.”
Inside Honda's EV Revolution: Robotic arms, mattress-sized batteries at Marysville plant The Honda 0 , Saloon, SUV and Acura RSX prototypes on display at the Marysville plant, Wednesday, Jan 29, 2025, in Marysville, Ohio. In the coming months, giant robotic arms and vehicles will begin moving mattress-sized batteries around Honda's nearly 43-year-old Marysville plant as the automaker transforms itself into something of a tech company. Honda will start making its latest electric vehicles in Ohio late this year, beginning with the an Acura SUV dubbed the "RSX." The operating system in Honda's new EVs will be named ASIMO, paying homage to the robot that became a pop culture phenomenon and was retired by the company a few years ago. https://eu.dispatch.com/picture-gal...arysville-ohio-cars-tech-company/78094024007/
Stellantis is collaborating with Texas-based Zeta Energy to develop lithium-sulfur batteries, aiming to halve battery costs per kilowatt-hour by 2030. These batteries promise a 50% improvement in rapid-charging speed and reduced weight. Unlike traditional lithium-ion batteries, lithium-sulfur technology doesn't require expensive materials like nickel, manganese, cobalt, or graphite, potentially leading to more sustainable and cost-effective electric vehicles. https://batteriesnews.com/stellantis-claims-new-tech-could-slash-battery-costs-by-2030/