Battery Manufacturer

In May 2008, Stanford University Professor of Materials Science, Dr. Yi Cui founded Amprius, Inc. based on his breakthrough research in silicon nanowires for energy storage and usage. Amprius’ immediate goals include commercialization of silicon-based anode materials with 10 times the capacity of current carbon anodes, offering an increase in cell capacity of roughly 40%.

Amprius goal is to enable batteries with a significant higher energy density, while other battery companies are focused on the power of a battery – e.g. how fast your electric car can accelerate or how powerful your electric drill is.

Amprius has developed an alternative anode made of silicon nanowires instead of carbon. Silicon can hold over 10X more lithium compared to carbon. However, even with today’s best commercially available cathode materials this does not yet result in a battery with 10X greater capacity.

Their main product line is battery packs for laptop computers. However a couple years ago they announced an intention to enter the market for vehicle battery packs, and have kept moving in that direction.

"Boston-Power’s lithium-ion battery technology platform is based on a design that delivers high energy density cells optimized for the mobility needs of the transportation market, allowing for long-range, fully electric drive at the industry’s lowest cost."

Some of the key benefits offered by the Swing 4400 over alternative cell technologies include:

• High energy density of 180Wh/kg
• Volumetric density of 420Wh/L
• Industry-leading cycle life:
• Over 1000 cycles at 100% Depth Of Discharge (DOD)
• Over 2000 cycles at 90% DOD
• High constant power of 440W/kg
• Pulse power of 1500 W/kg (2s pulse)
• Flexible and scalable packaging
• Excellent thermal properties
• Nordic Ecolabel accreditation
• UL, UN, and ROHS certifications

Electrovaya Inc designs, develops and manufactures proprietary Lithium Ion SuperPolymer® batteries, battery systems, and battery-related products for the clean transportation, smart grid power, consumer and healthcare markets. The Company’s mission is to accelerate clean transportation as a commercial reality with its advanced power system for all classes of zero-emission electric vehicles and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles.

Electrovaya’s technology is primarily characterized by superior energy density. Its nanostructured Lithium Ion SuperPolymer® platform technology provides a faster, more efficient transport of lithium. This equates to its ability to pack more energy into smaller and lighter spaces.

"Envia is a clean-tech materials company working to power the electric and hybrid car revolution. We develop and manufacture innovative components that enable lighter, lower cost lithium batteries. Our patent-pending electrode technology produces lithium-ion batteries that store previously unattainable levels of energy—the highest capacity in the world. They’re also safer and longer lasting. Envia has developed a cathode material based on inexpensive metals (including manganese) that stores more energy per weight than anything else in use today. Our cathode’s crystal structure is inherently more stable than that of most commercial batteries, making it much safer. We also develop novel electrolytes that further increase our safety factor."

"Farasis Energy, Inc. is an advanced battery technology company focused on developing and commercializing innovative energy storage solutions to meet the increasingly critical, global demand for improved battery performance, cost, and safety. Farasis has established a world class facility and team for battery development. New lithium primary and rechargeable battery systems based on our patent pending materials, cell design, and safety technologies will offer dramatic increases in energy and power density, run time, and cell safety. We are currently securing high volume manufacturing capability to commercialize our first generation, advanced Li-ion cells based on our technology."

Manufacturers of lithium ION in 18650 and 26650 cell sizes. They also manufacture battery packs and battery systems, made with their cells. Their web site shows a car which uses their cells, and they've made a deal with Universal Power Group where UPG will distribute their batteries for use in vehicles.

"Nexeon has patented a unique way of structuring silicon so that it delivers extended cycle life and significantly increases battery capacity. In contrast to carbon, Nexeon’s silicon anode materials have a much higher capacity for lithium and as a result are capable of almost ten times the power capacity per gram (mAh/g). Silicon anode lithium-ion batteries allow for greater power storage capacity and/or smaller battery size, or for greater battery life between charges. As well as increasing capacity, Nexeon’s technology reduces the amount of material used in the Li-ion battery, providing key advantages to manufacturers of a range of consumer goods."

They make stuff for the innards of lithium-ion batteries ... "Symmetrix™ microporous PVDF separators are directly laminable onto electrodes without expensive and performance-robbing pretreatments. Symmetrix separators maintain maximum porosity and low resistance even after laminating — opening up a wealth of innovative design possibilities for energy storage cell manufacturers. Symmetrix™ microporous separators use a patent-pending process that yields 80% porosity in a thin, flexible film. This high porosity reduces resistance within the battery, allowing for faster cell charge and discharge (with no degradation of battery performance), better thermal control, less waste heat and longer cell cycle life. Symmetrix™ looks and acts like a sponge. Its material composition and unique polymer matrix structure wick electrolyte into the cells two to three times faster and more evenly than traditional separators. This allows increased manufacturing throughput, higher yields and reduced production costs. Symmetrix™ separators easily conform to the surface of the electrode and flex as the electrode expands and contracts. This superior structural bond yields consistent power performance, cycle after cycle. High compression is not required."

They're not saying much about themselves. They describe themselves as developing an advanced solid-state rechargeable lithium-ion battery technology. They aim to further enable electric drive train vehicles that are capable of getting more than 100 miles per gallon.