Despite the advantages of lithium-ion, technical challenges have kept these batteries from being used in automotive and other large-format battery applications. These applications depend on large battery packs made of multiple cells connected in series to achieve the high voltages required. A key hurdle has been the complexity and extra cost of effectively regulating the state of charge across these series of connected cells.

Over the life of a battery pack, imbalances that hinder battery performance, shorten life, and increase warranty costs and safety risks develop across cells. In traditional dissipative approaches to cell balancing, the battery pack capacity is limited by the lowest capacity cell. This limits the useful life of a battery pack and translates into high warranty costs and customer complaints in applications, such as cars and trucks, where lengthy performance lifetimes are required, according to TIAX.

Cel-X provides maximum possible energy while keeping cells in balance, protecting lithium-ion battery packs from the detrimental effects of unbalanced distribution of charge across cells. The result is a battery pack with longer life, increased capacity and improved safety. Other patent applications for Cel-X are pending in addition to the two newly awarded patents.

We’re very proud to be advancing a technology that could significantly accelerate the presence of HEVs and PHEVs on the market.

—Kenan Sahin, TIAX CEO and Founder

TIAX, which calls itself a technology processing company—a company that processes emerging innovations into robust technology platforms ready for hand-off—is also developing a nickel-based cathode material for lithium-ion batteries. The Department of Energy has provided support for that work.