New program in Japan to push development of solid-state batteries
07 May 2018
The Nikkei reports that Leading Japanese manufacturers have teamed up with the government in a program to develop solid-state batteries. The new program teams the Consortium for Lithium Ion Battery Technology and Evaluation Center (Libtec) with companies such as Toyota Motor and Panasonic.
To support the program, Japan’s Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry will provide ¥1.6 billion ($14 million) in funding to Libtec, a research body whose members include Asahi Kasei and Toray Industries. Toyota Motor, Nissan Motor, Honda Motor, Panasonic and battery maker GS Yuasa will also participate.
Toyota has been working on solid-state battery technology for some time (earlier post), but has yet to reach the commercialization stage. The program aims to make this happen by combining expertise from each member of the consortium.
Key goals of the program include improving battery performance and establishing safety criteria for the new batteries.
Libtec hopes to develop a solid-state battery that doubles the range of electric vehicles to 800 km (497 miles) by 2030 over the current 400 km (249 miles). For the time being, it is targeting a more modest range of 550 km (342 miles) by 2025.
Japanese companies accounted for 70% of the global automotive battery market in 2013, but they are being challenged by China and South Korea. Chinese companies expanded their combined global share to 26% in 2016 from just 3% in 2013. Over the same period, Japanese manufacturers’ share shrunk to 41%.
The Nikkei said that Japan’s industry ministry is eager for the country to reclaim its global dominance by setting standards for solid-state batteries. It may seek to register related technologies with the International Electrotechnical Commission, a standards organization for electronics.
5 years ago the U.S. DOE funded a project at Argonne Labs named JCESR. The goal was 5 years to create a battery with 5 times more density for 1/5 the cost. The best I know is they never brought anything to production; however, I think the researchers did get funded for another 5 years. I hope the Japanese have better luck.
Posted by: Lad | 07 May 2018 at 09:24 AM
GS Yuasa
These were the guys with flaming Boeing batteries.
Posted by: SJC | 07 May 2018 at 09:45 AM
Lad is correct.
Not much has come out of JCESR (or Toyota) in the last 5+ years. Will the new Japanese Joint Venture do better in the next 5 years?
An all weather 800 Km range BEV will require something close to 200 kWh battery pack. It could be done with 5X batteries will less weight than current 2X batteries. The cost of those new SS 5X batteries will have to be well below $100/kWh. Can anybody to it for around $50/kWh will less (lower cost) materials and fully automated factories operating 24 hours a day 7 on 7?
Posted by: HarveyD | 07 May 2018 at 10:55 AM
JCESR accomplishments halfway through its five-year charter.
https://www.anl.gov/articles/jcesr-accomplishments-halfway-through-its-five-year-charter
Posted by: SJC | 07 May 2018 at 02:00 PM
Here is a summary after five years.
https://www.jcesr.org/category/research-highlight/
It is good to be informed before ranting.
Posted by: SJC | 07 May 2018 at 02:08 PM
“Libtec hopes to develop a solid-state battery that doubles the range of electric vehicles to 800 km (497 miles) by 2030 ”
That is a silly and largely worthless goal that can be achieved today if desired. The time frame they set for their goal is laughable. The industry is already advancing faster then their goal so it would appear their objective is to slow the pace of advancement. Good luck with that.
Posted by: Gasbag | 07 May 2018 at 09:23 PM
@SJC:
According to JCESR's update of October 2015, (half way into their 5-year project) lithium batteries performances have/had doubled (2X) between 1991 and October 2015, i.e. in over 22 years or about 4.5%/year (not compounded).
Secondly, JCESR does not take or deserve credit for this (extremely slow) progress. TESLA/Panasonic, LG, Samsung, Toshiba, BYD, Toyota and many others have done it, not JCESR.
Will LIBTEC manage to increase the performance rate from the current low 4.5%/year to above 8%/year and simultaneously reduce the cost at the same higher rate? That's the question?
Posted by: HarveyD | 08 May 2018 at 06:14 AM
Whatever Harvey,
You are obsessed because the 5/5/5 battery that you raved about did not happen. It was an ambitious goal and they made progress, only Pollyannas rave.
Posted by: SJC | 08 May 2018 at 06:56 AM