EU launches $7.6M ALISE to develop Li-sulfur batteries for plug-ins; targeting stable 500 Wh/kg cell by 2019
19 August 2015
Under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program, the EU has launched ALISE (Advanced Lithium Sulfur battery for xEV), a pan-European collaboration focused on the development and commercial scale-up of new materials and on the understanding of the electrochemical processes involved in lithium-sulfur technology. The €6,899,233 (US$7.6 million) project is focused on achieving a stable 500 Wh/kg Li-S cell by 2019.
ALISE includes the development of the key components of the cell—anode, cathode and electrolyte—and will culminate in an ultra-lightweight 17 kWh battery for a SEAT (a member of the Volkswagen Group) vehicle for testing on-track and public roads. LEITAT is the lead organization involved and will co-ordinate and manage the entire project, which also incorporates dedicated durability, testing and lifecycle analysis (LCA) activities to deliver safety, adequate cyclability and competitive cost.
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Initial materials research will be scaled up during the project so that pilot scale quantities of the new materials will be introduced into the novel cell designs, delivering advancements over the current state-of-the-art. Activities will be focused on the elaboration of new materials and processes at TRL4.
The largest single funding award to the 15 participating partners goes to UK-based Li-S battery company OXIS Energy (€953,025 / US$1,050,000), which has already achieved 325 Wh/kg with its Li-sulfur technology.
OXIS will lead the work to develop the anode, the critical area needed to achieve high cycle life. Aided by LEITAT, The Technical University of Dresden, Polito and C-Tech Innovation, OXIS will develop both anode coatings and alternatives to the pure lithium used today.
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OXIS will also work to develop the cathode and electrolyte. The company will partner Fraunhofer IWS and Solvionic.
OXIS will then use its experience of Lithium Sulfur manufacturing to scale-up the assembly of this new generation of cells from lab scale to pilot production scale. SEAT, aided by OXIS, VARTA, Ficossa, CEIT, Idneo and RDVS will integrate these cells into its vehicle.
OXIS has already built several Lithium Sulfur batteries including for e-bikes, energy storage and an EV battery, integrated into the world’s first Lithium Sulfur powered EV.
Will this be one of the first mass produced affordable 3-3-3 battery by 2020 or so?
The world may have to wait till 2025 or so for improved 5-5-5 batteries required to produce extended range BEVs to progressively replace ICEVs.
Posted by: HarveyD | 19 August 2015 at 07:25 AM
I wish them well, we could all use a better battery.
Posted by: SJC | 19 August 2015 at 01:24 PM
Harvey, a 3-3-3 battery would enable a no-compromise EV with a life cycle cost less than an equivalent ICE. A 5-5-5 battery would ultimately limit ICE's to niche applications.
Posted by: NorthernPiker | 19 August 2015 at 01:33 PM
Can you eli5 what 3-3-3 and 5-5-5 mean?
Posted by: Pinewold | 19 August 2015 at 02:42 PM
DOE to award $120M to team led by Argonne National Lab for joint research hub on batteries and energy storage; 5-5-5 goal
http://www.greencarcongress.com/2012/11/jcesr-20121130.html
Posted by: SJC | 19 August 2015 at 02:48 PM
“5-5-5. We will develop batteries that are five times more powerful and five times cheaper within 5 years." People use 5-5-5 as shorthand, but really they should refer to it as 5-5-? since we are already 3 years into the goal. Personally I would be very happy with a 3-3-4 at this point. It would take care of most people's needs, for most uses. Even a 2-2-2 would satisfy my needs and range anxiety.
Posted by: JMartin | 19 August 2015 at 03:13 PM
Excellent news, about time we moved up to LiS.
Posted by: clett | 21 August 2015 at 12:46 AM
If this arrives on schedule, the replacement battery for my Fusion Energi at the 8-year mark could be 2/3 the size with double the capacity. About the only thing I could want at that point is a fast-charge option.
Posted by: Engineer-Poet | 22 August 2015 at 08:52 AM
Dear All,
If you whish to know more on our activities, more info are available on our web http://www.aliseproject.com/.
All ALISE consortium will be at Dresden this week: http://www.iws.fraunhofer.de/en/events/lithium-sulfur-batteries_2015.html.
See you there!
Christophe
Posted by: Christophe Aucher | 09 November 2015 at 01:20 AM