Thread for new battery breakthrough PR releases

classicalgas said:
The combination of large format (4680) with tabless designs ( with their shorter current path) seems to have better energy density for a given chemistry than other cylindrical designs. More recycle friendly, easier/faster to make, and more electrolyte dense also.

Using a cooling plate on the base (both electrodes on the top) offers better cooling potential than one sided ripple tube coolant setups as well. putting both electrodes on top and laser welding the conductors should ease assembling the pack.

Aluminum cans vs nickle plated steel? Some sources claim that as well, but I can't find a definitive answer. I would be nice to reduce the nickle used in EV batteries.
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Actually i think many 46xx cell samples do not assume the use of bottom cooling, the bottom of the cell is often electrically (and thus thermally) insulated. The reason why this is the case from my point of view is that automakers try to achieve the lowest possible height of the battery box, where bottom cooling simply adds at least a few extra mm of height. I.e. the cylindrical format is also well suitable for side cooling.
 
Pajda said:
Actually i think many 46xx cell samples do not assume the use of bottom cooling, the bottom of the cell is often electrically (and thus thermally) insulated. The reason why this is the case from my point of view is that automakers try to achieve the lowest possible height of the battery box, where bottom cooling simply adds at least a few extra mm of height. I.e. the cylindrical format is also well suitable for side cooling.
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Yes, many have vents on the bottom. They generally are designed for side cooling and same-side busbars.
 
BlueSwordM said:
Here's something very nice for you all :)

Source: International Battery Seminar | March 17-20, 2025 | Orlando, FL

Man, this presentation will be golden:
2:20 Ultrafast Laser Processing of Battery Electrodes for Faster Charging and Improved Electrolyte and Electrode Wetting Ryan Tancin, Staff Scientist, National Renewable Energy Laboratory Ultrafast lasers can be used to create micro-structures in battery electrodes that provide homogeneous wetting and greatly improve high-rate charging. Our cost-analysis simulations using the Battery Performance and Cost model indicate that adoption of ultrafast-laser electrode processing adds minimal additional cell costs, approximately $1.50/kWh. We present a detailed characterization of experimental laser ablation for common battery electrodes, enabling informed choices of laser parameters and accurate predicting of processing throughput.
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For anyone interested, here's a related paper that I finally managed to get a copy of:

They used a high power laser to massively increase surface area (also improving electrolyte wetting, but that's another topic) on the graphite anode while not decreasing capacity, and applied the "usual" borate-carbonate coating to greatly decrease interfacial resistance (how much resistance there is to moving lithium ions into the graphite).

I wouldn't be surprised that all the papers I've posted have already been replicated by battery manufacturers of modern cells to massively increase power density at no cost to energy density.
 
CamLight said:
Thanks!
That’s a link to just the abstract though, the paper is behind a paywall. Could you post the link to the full paper?
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Sadly, no.

This publisher is a LOT more aggressive than the other ones when it comes to posting PDFs or links.

I've already had to remove a link from another place for this reason.

Just because you asked though, I will email the article writers; it usually works rather well to get a nice PDF on the subject :)
 
In case these have not been mentionned:

• Enevate:
"Enevate has successfully engineered 21700 cylindrical cells with its partners, which achieve an impressive greater than 6.5Ah, and an ultra high energy density greater than 300Wh/kg (...)"
"As development progresses, Enevate is targeting a 4C charge rate for future iterations of the 21700 cell, while maintaining the exceptional greater than 6.5Ah capacity."
"(...) The newly developed 21700 cell has demonstrated remarkable cycle life, exceeding 1,000 cycles in rigorous full depth of discharge cycle testing."
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Source

• Amprius:
"With an energy density of 315 Wh/kg, the 6.3Ah SiCore cell builds on Amprius’ proven technology, delivering (...) a high-power 3C discharge rate. It achieves 800 cycles at 80% depth of discharge (DOD), (...)"
"(...) commercialization of this cell set for this year (...)"
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Source


TL;DR:
  • Enevate: 21700 cell, >6.5Ah, >300Wh/kg, >1,000 cycles, silicon-dominant anode, targeting +4C charge.
  • Amprius: 21700 cell, ~6.3Ah, 315 Wh/kg, 800 cycles (80% DOD), silicon anode, -3C discharge, available in 2025.
 
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Souvlucky said:
In case these have not been mentionned:

• Enevate:

Source

• Amprius:

Source


TL;DR:
  • Enevate: 21700 cell, >6.5Ah, >300Wh/kg, >1,000 cycles, silicon-dominant anode, targeting +4C charge.
  • Amprius: 21700 cell, ~6.3Ah, 315 Wh/kg, 800 cycles (80% DOD), silicon anode, -3C discharge, available in 2025.
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It's always funny seing 800 cycles at 80% DOD.
That likely entails 250-300 cycles at 100% DOD.

They're likely having difficulties dealing with homogeneity in cylindrical cells since tabbed cells tend to be problematic in this regard if your cell isn't tough enough, like a Molicel P50B.
 
CamLight said:
Thanks!
That’s a link to just the abstract though, the paper is behind a paywall. Could you post the link to the full paper?
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Sci-hub is your friend when pesky publishers hide papers behind paywall. Depending on where you live, sci-hub may not be accessible but if you use Thor browser or a VPN you can get access to virtually every research paper on the planet. Science for all, a it should be.
 
Balgaroth said:
Sci-hub is your friend when pesky publishers hide papers behind paywall. Depending on where you live, sci-hub may not be accessible but if you use Thor browser or a VPN you can get access to virtually every research paper on the planet. Science for all, a it should be.
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That only works for old papers since they stopped hosting new papers being sent by people.
 
So, I've done a lot of reading and research, and I'm ready to talk about CATL's latest release:

Naxtra Battery Breakthrough & Dual-Power Architecture: CATL Pioneers the Multi-Power Era

/CNW/ -- On April 21, 2025, CATL unveiled three groundbreaking EV battery products at its inaugural Super Tech Day: The Freevoy Dual-Power Battery, Naxtra -...
www.newswire.ca www.newswire.ca

In summary, we have:

1. 175Wh/kg sodium ion cells with lifetimes of over 10k cycles (DOD to be determined...).

2- High power LFP + Anode Free High Energy LFP. You can build packs with 2 compartments: one using high cycle life high power LFP cells for the main driving range, and high energy LFP cells for maximum energy density. Now, how is this special or new?
Well, the High Energy LFP section uses extremely tight packaging, thick cathodes and most importantly, has a self-forming anode.

Yep, you read that right here: anode-free LFP. 305Wh/kg LFP cells will be coming soon.

3- Extreme High Power NMC(A) + Anode Free High Energy LFP: XHP NMC(A) for extremely high power density for high power peaks, while the High Energy LFP pack is there to provide high energy density at low costs.

4- XHP NMC(A) + Anode Free NMC(A): Highest costs, but highest energy density. 450Wh/kg :)

5- Last, but not least, Sodium (Naxtra) + High Energy LFP (anode free), for maximum life and cold power output.
 
JRP3 said:
I'm not clear on the benefit of these "hybrid" battery packs. The two chemistries just end up averaging out and don't seem to be much different than a single cell chemistry which is the average of the two.
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It's far easier to make specialized packs that excel in their respective areas, especially when it comes to cost and cycle life.

For example, let's just say your target energy density is 300Wh/kg.

You could either build a pack using 300Wh/kg cells with 700 cycles, or build a mixed pack that uses a high energy low power 450Wh/kg 350 cycles section + a section with high cycle life high power 220Wh/kg pack rated at 4000 cycles.

Of course, the ideal solution would be 300Wh/kg with 4000 cycles, but that's currently hard to do in cost sensitive vehicles and harder to do in general.

You do trade off some volumetric energy density by having to make 2 separate packs and you do lose out on some scale, but CATL has deemed it to be worth it.
 
BlueSwordM said:
Of course, the ideal solution would be 300Wh/kg with 4000 cycles, but that's currently hard to do in cost sensitive vehicles and harder to do in general.
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A 300 Wh/kg cell with 700 cycles could easily make a 500 mile EV, 700 x 500 = 350,000 miles, which is longer than most vehicles last. The added complexity and cost of managing two different chemistries with opposing characteristics seems as if it would negate any perceived benefits.
 
JRP3 said:
A 300 Wh/kg cell with 700 cycles could easily make a 500 mile EV, 700 x 500 = 350,000 miles, which is longer than most vehicles last. The added complexity and cost of managing two different chemistries with opposing characteristics seems as if it would negate any perceived benefits.
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Mybe in terms of having a electric sports car. You have the high energy density batteries when you want high range and you have the high power batteries for high accelerarion and track times
 
ak136 said:
Mybe in terms of having a electric sports car. You have the high energy density batteries when you want high range and you have the high power batteries for high accelerarion and track times
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Except the high energy density batteries keep the weight lower and by increasing the kWh of the pack even a lower C rate chemistry can still put out plenty of power because of the increased pack size. For example 10C from a 50kWh pack is the same as 5C from a 100kWh pack but the 100kWh pack doubles your range.
 
JRP3 said:
Except the high energy density batteries keep the weight lower and by increasing the kWh of the pack even a lower C rate chemistry can still put out plenty of power because of the increased pack size. For example 10C from a 50kWh pack is the same as 5C from a 100kWh pack but the 100kWh pack doubles your range.
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I wouldnt say there are high energy density cells that have 5C, more like max 2-3C, looking at the data on nkon.nl for 21700 cell format
 
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