Electrovaya Introduces New Lithium-Ion Battery Technology with Higher Energy Density
18 January 2007
Electrovaya Inc. has introduced its “MN-Series” Lithium Ion SuperPolymer battery technology.
The MN-Series, which is a Lithiated Manganese Oxide based system, offers up to 50% higher energy density and comparable safety characteristics to Electrovaya’s Phosphate-Series chemistry.
Electrovaya’s proprietary Lithium Ion SuperPolymer technology is independent of the composition of the positive electrode active material. As such, ongoing advances in positive electrode chemistry, such as the MN-Series, are expected to enable better technical performance and safety characteristics at more economical price-points, according to the company.
The MN-Series technology will complement Electrovaya’s existing roster of Phosphate-Series and Cobaltate-Series Lithium Ion SuperPolymer technology solutions.
Our new MN-Series is an exciting addition to Electrovaya’s existing solution base. It is particularly well suited to large-format battery system demands with its superior energy density, power and safety characteristics and we’re pleased to offer it as part of our integrated power system solution offerings.
—Dr. Sankar DasGupta, CEO of Electrovaya
One of Electrovaya’s products is the Maya 100 EV. (Earlier post.) The Maya 100, which ran in the 2004 Tour de Sol and won awards for Best Battery Electric Vehicle and the Technology Award, uses either 35 kWh or 50 kWh phosphate series lithium-ion superpolymer systems.
Approximate energy density of the older batteries is 225 Wh/kg and 475 Wh/liter. The new series offers density of beyond 330 Wh/kg and 650 Wh/liter.
In addition to its tablet PC and portable power business, Electrovaya is targeting the market for plug-in hybrids and zero-emission vehicles.
Density of beyond 330 wh/kg is hard to believe and would be great but the primary issue with batteries is cost per mile. I think the Density of NMH is adequite for plug in hybrids but the cost is way too high as long as gas sells for under $7.00/gallon.
IHMO a 10 mile plug in hybrid set up so that the typical user gets all or most of his driving below 30 MPH from the battery would the way to start.
Otherwise a strategy of better and better hybrid/ICE(direct injection HCCI etc.) tech. could I think take the Prius to better than 100 MPG without a plug in 7 or 8 years.
Posted by: jwogdn | 18 January 2007 at 06:59 AM
This energy density is in the same range as the EEStor ultracap system. I hope that at least one of these companies is able to bring their product to market and a reasonable price. If both Electrovaya and EEStor (and perhaps others) get to market at about the same time, then there might even be a price war between them! That would really kick-start the switchover to EVs and PHEVs. Anyway, one can dream.
Posted by: Kevin | 18 January 2007 at 02:41 PM
EEStor will, in my opinion, never come to market.
I'm tired of these articles that trumpet one characterisitic and then mysteriously fail to report the other 5 critical characteristics. If nothing is mentioned about any of these characteristics, it's because they are
very poor. Otherwise they would mention them.
Posted by: kent beuchert | 18 January 2007 at 03:56 PM
and they only cost $300k each and their construction only adds 10x the safe levels of lithium to the water supply of malaysia, causing the entire population to become very very mellow.
Posted by: shaun mann | 18 January 2007 at 10:47 PM
LOL! That was funny shaun.
I'd bet in volume production you could get the cost down to $30k for a 50kWh pack. That might sound exorbitant, but not so if it is financed over 30 years. $1k a year for a 50kWh battery pack, anyone? Cost per mile works out to be about 3c compared to 9c for gasoline (I'm talking about battery pack plus electricity compared just to the cost of gasoline).
Have the IEEE come up with some sort of standard for battery packaging so that you can take your $30k battery pack from one vehicle to the next. All of the sudden, the tech is economically viable...
The consumer wins, the banks win, Big Coal wins, the environment sorta wins... the only one who gets really screwed is Big Oil.
Posted by: John | 19 January 2007 at 06:49 AM
Has anyone seen any proof of concept for the EEStor rumor? I say rumor because there seems to be no proof of conecpt unit out there.
Posted by: Bob | 19 January 2007 at 11:55 AM
EEStor is being almost totaly quiet. Their last press release only talked about working on a demonstration production line and the refining of some of their raw materials. The only rumours we're hearing came out of Feel Good Cars which has liscenced the tech. If they haven't had their hands on a prototype then I hope they can bail on their contract if EEstor can't deliver. In view of the lack of real information I'd have to catagorize their storage device as a really exciting long shot.
Posted by: Neil | 19 January 2007 at 01:49 PM
EESTor may have something after all. They have released
news that their production lie met several critical
criteria required for the production of their revolutionary storage capacitor. If their capacitor actually works, without any killer bad characteristics,
immediately it dominates the electric car field. You might also honestly say that it will have created a practical electric car that anyone can afford. Sort of an electric
Model T (Henry Ford's wife actually drove a Detroit Electric car).
Posted by: kent beuchert | 20 January 2007 at 10:12 AM
One problem with Electronova's batteries is that the company makes NO mention of lifecycle capability. Since this is the major means of determining practicality and
therefore extremely important, they make no mention of
their battery's capabilities. This isn't good.
Posted by: kent beuchert | 20 January 2007 at 10:15 AM
There's a new solid-state battery technology coming out this year[?] which is a joint venture between a new "stealth" EV and MIT. Apparently, the tests easily demonstrated [so far] up to 400+ wh/kg with rapid recharging time and long life cycle. I heard that within two year or sooner they could achieve a 600+wh/kg or more. The battery is made of relatively cheap materials hence keeping the cost way down. This new EV company is going to manufacture it somewhere in Central America and stay out of the price war and phony availability of all the other battery manufacturers.
I think their strategy will be a success and a another huge factor in their favor is that they don't have to buy from a third [battery] company which regardless of their financial status cannot guarantee that maybe one day they would be bought by Big Oil or by Big Detroit and nicely placed on a shelf somewhere in their vast storage facilities...hehehehe
Don't know the name yet, but I will investigate further.
FS PhD
Posted by: Fred | 21 January 2007 at 10:27 AM
Fred, it was rumoured that the current A123 systems technology is a lesser-version of what was about to come from the same laboratory - ie a solid state version of the same battery. I am curious about the new EV company you suggest - any more details?
Posted by: clett | 22 January 2007 at 05:32 AM
clett,
The A123 isn't solid state, as it relies on a chemical reaction. The EEStor, in theory, is solid state. MIT's Technology Review just released an article on EEStor by Tyler Hamilton, so maybe that is the MIT connection Fred referred to. Fred, what is your source?
Posted by: Matt | 26 January 2007 at 11:19 AM
A123Systems is on of the few manufacturers I've found that makes their power density numbers readily available on their website.
They're power density figures for continuous discharge is 2700 W/Kg. This is almost twice the power of Saft's batteries and several times Electrovaya's product.
They also post their cycle life figures which are quite impressive. Their batteriesa are commercially available today.
Posted by: Kaku | 01 February 2007 at 01:29 PM
Kent Beuchert is a fake working for the oil / gas lobby and has posted on hundreds of websites through dummy email accounts (eg - [email protected]). He has been posting for six years on this topic - ridiculously if you think about it. He has made up locations in McLean, VA and Tampa, FL and goes under the guise of a computer analyst. Please forward any information you may have on him as I am writing a story. Regards - David Lassiter
Posted by: David Lassiter | 18 February 2007 at 10:26 PM
Kent Beuchert is a fake working for the oil / gas lobby and has posted on hundreds of websites through dummy email accounts (eg - [email protected]). He has been posting for six years on this topic - ridiculously if you think about it. He has made up locations in McLean, VA and Tampa, FL and goes under the guise of a computer analyst. Please forward any information you may have on him as I am writing a story. Regards - David Lassiter
Posted by: David Lassiter | 18 February 2007 at 10:27 PM
For those of you reading this column, I am a novice to the battery development debate. I ask for your comment on this idea. I believe that the technology exists to replace the gasoline engine with a battery powered engine, that can be reinforced by photovoltaic technology attached to the roof of anything, primarily, cars, buses, and trucks. The American consumer, and consumers elsewhere can not afford to purchase new hybrid cars. But if there were a national recall to replace the gasoline engine with a 50% subsidy through direct grant or tax deduction from the federal government, then a car owner can keep the current car and replace the engine with a two to three year window to recover the investment. Your thoughts.
Posted by: Roberto | 14 September 2008 at 05:23 AM