Advanced Li-ion Chemistry for Safer and Greener Electric Vehicle and Energy Storage Systems
South 8 Technologies
Recipient
San Diego, CA
Recipient Location
39th
Senate District
78th
Assembly District
$942,805
Amount Spent
Completed
Project Status
Project Result
The project was completed in 2024. Through the course of this project, the team at South 8 has accelerated development using 18650 cells having a graphite anode and nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC811) cathode. These cells achieved the following performance targets:
1) Cycle Life: Cells have demonstrated >1,000 cycles (projected to be 2,000 cycles) at full depth of discharge at room temperature and cycle life projected to be >1,500 cycles at +45 °C.
2) High Power & Fast Charge: Cells have demonstrated high power and greatly improved performance over liquid equivalent cells (95 percent capacity retention for LiGas versus 57 percent for liquid electrolyte cells over 150 fast-charge protocol cycles having 15 minute charge time)
3) Low Temperature Performance: >70 percent capacity retention as low as -60 °C while maintaining high voltage
4) Improved Safety: Reduced burn time and no thermal propagation when compared to conventional liquid electrolyte cells
5) Demonstrated Recyclability: Demonstrated ability to vent and collect LiGas electrolyte at end of life, with a rough demonstration showing 56 percent collection of the LiGas electrolyte solvent, which may be purified, rebalanced, and reused in future Li-ion battery cells.
The Issue
Today's lithium-ion batteries were designed for consumer electronics. With a push towards grid-storage batteries and electric vehicles to curb carbon emissions, a new generation of batteries with improved performance is required. Improvements to the energy density, cost, recyclability, and safety metrics of lithium batteries are restricted by electrolyte chemistry.
Project Innovation
The purpose of this Agreement is to fund the development of liquefied gas electrolytes for their use in Li-ion cells with superior performance metrics compared to the state-of-practice. Development will focus on utilizing a graphite anode, high-nickel cathode, and demonstration of high cell safety and recyclability with a focus on their use in energy storage system (ESS) or electric vehicle applications.
Project Goals
Project Benefits
This project, if successful, will advance Li-ion batteries to have an increase in battery pack level energy density, reduce thermal runaway and safety concerns, and lower costs while utilizing mainstream manufacturing processes and equipment. Developing this technology for Li-ion will be a near-term market to also bring the technologies' application to lithium metal batteries closer to commercialization.
Affordability
This project aims to save California Investor-Owned Utility ratepayers money via lower utility bills through lower cost ESS coming online and through lower cost Electric Vehicles, both on the sale and charging of the vehicle. Whether it is an ESS or an EV, South 8 is able to provide a more cost-effective solution through lower cathode cost, improved manufacturing, improved safety, and improved recyclability.
Environmental Sustainability
Using these models, we may instead estimate the savings from the life of the battery over 2,000 cycles at 100% depth of discharge, over ten years (minimum life of the battery). This cycle profile would be equivalent to 200 MWh of energy savings per year per MWh storage facility. CO2 emissions for California is estimated at 730 lbs per MWh.
Safety
One of the biggest focuses of this project is to demonstrate improved safety of the lithium gas electrolyte as it applies to Energy Storage for grid storage as well as Electric Vehicles. In contrast to conventional Li-ion cells, under physical or electrical abuse, South 8 cells will rapidly vent the non-hazardous lithium gas electrolyte out from the cell through a built-in vent in the cell.
Subrecipients
Quallion LLC
