EcoloCap claims its battery more than 98% efficient

[michaelplogue]

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http://www.gizmag.com/ecolocap-nano-lithium-battery/14609/?utm_source=Gizmag+Subscribers&utm_campaign=0f6af84f78-UA-2235360-4&utm_medium=email

A performance evaluation undertaken by Exponent Inc has revealed that EcoloCap’s Nano Lithium X Battery offers over 98 percent efficiency and has "the world’s highest energy density output per mass". Outperforming company expectations, the battery was also found to have the "fastest recharge time of any comparable commercial battery" together with the "lowest cost per energy output".

In the evaluation, engineering and scientific consultants Exponent Inc tested for the charge and discharge capabilities of the Nano Lithium X Battery from EcoloCap at 100 amps, 150 amps, 200 amps and 235 amps and, as you can see from the table below, its efficiency scored 98 percent or over in all but the last rate.

One 720Ahr/12V battery was used for the whole evaluation which saw it being hooked up to a 2005-S LEM current transducer to measure the current and having the temperature, voltage and current recorded using a Fluke Hydra Logger. The battery was discharged at a constant current until it dropped to 9V, then it was charged using an open circuit, 12.6V power supply set to the test charge current. Once fully charged, the Nano Lithium X was then tested whilst being discharged at the test current until it again dropped to 9V. Then it was retested at the next charge current until the evaluation concluded.

Ecolocap has compared its Nano Lithium X battery to Lithium-ion batteries and claims that its proven to have the highest energy density and the lowest cost per watt-hour. Commenting on the results, the company's Michael Siegel said: "This battery is well-positioned to become a leader in key markets seeking high-performance batteries, including use in electric vehicles, golf carts, cellular towers and similar demanding applications."

More detailed information on the evaluation is available from Ecolocap's website.

http://www.ecolocap.com/site/en/documents/nano-lithium-x-battery/nano-lithium-x-battery-test-results.html

 

[tostino]

All of those tests were done at well below C/2... Are there any details on wh/kg?

 

[rscamp]

I thought all lithium chemistries were near 100% efficient at energy conversion at low C-rates?

 

[dogman dan]

Be impressed if they were good at 30c. But if aimed at big vehicles, you'll be carrying enough battery for a .5c discharge rate for 100 mile range anyway. Energy density is the big deal for huge packs. Sounds like they have that.

Not that others don't allready. Imagine how a golf cart would fly if 300 pounds of lead was removed and a123 pouches used instead.

 

[dnmun]

nobody knows how much it costs to maker the carbon nanotube matrix they are using as the substrate to deposit the lithium on. or how well it handles repeated charge cycles. this is still fluff, you really need to know the processes and how much it costs to manufacture the substrates. but you will still be limited to lipo chemistry with this anode. imo.

 

[Sheriff Jon]

I don't know, maybe it is just me. But a company that would put their stock prices (current, high and low) at the bottom of their web page sounds like thay are phishing for investors

 

[julesa]

Be impressed if they were good at 30c. But if aimed at big vehicles, you'll be carrying enough battery for a .5c discharge rate for 100 mile range anyway. Energy density is the big deal for huge packs. Sounds like they have that.

Not that others don't allready. Imagine how a golf cart would fly if 300 pounds of lead was removed and a123 pouches used instead.

True, energy density is the biggest issue, but it isn't the only factor. Even if you're carrying around enough battery so your typical level of power consumption is not stressful on the cells, presumably you will still want the ability to charge that huge pack as fast as possible.

 

[julesa]

I don't know, maybe it is just me. But a company that would put their stock prices (current, high and low) at the bottom of their web page sounds like thay are phishing for investors

I'd be more concerned about their claims for the "cnt battery." For one thing, they're not even making it themselves. They own 50% of some Korean company which is actually developing it. For another thing, they claim:

http://www.ecolocap.com/site/en/mbt-cnt-battery.html

Our proprietary technology modifies the fabrication of lead acid batteries by applying a highly-conductive carbon nano tube coating to the anode and cathode cells.

Even granting that the description on their web page was obviously not written by someone who knows anything about making lead acid batteries ("anode and cathode cells?"), there are technical claims made that are simply impossible.

The CNT-Battery’s advanced technology demonstrates eight times the reserve capacity of traditional lead acid batteries, two and a half times the energy density of lithium-ion batteries, and a recharge time of just five minutes; all at a fraction of the cost of lithium-ion batteries.

That's straight up bullshit. You can't get 2.5 times the energy density of even the worst lithium batteries with ANY lead -lead sulfate chemistry, because it exceeds the theoretical maximum energy density.

 

[JRP3]

I've spent a lot of time looking into this company so I can give a quick over view. Ecolocap is basically a US based company serving as what I call a "front end" for the actual Korean company that has developed the technology, Micro Bubble Technology, or MBT. My impression is that the people at Ecolocap aren't that strong on the technological aspects, those people are on the Korean side, so there is some confusion during translation, hence some of the unlikely claims.
Supposedly this large 12 volt 720ah LiFePO4 battery was tested for stationary storage as requested by a specific customer, so high C rates were not important, not to mention difficult to test on a 720ah battery Individual cells are 240ahs. More info here: http://www.teslamotorsclub.com/ener...logies-unveils-m-fuel-cnt-battery-public.html
That thread also has a link to a discussion at DIY and Autobloggreen.