By Paul Lienert
Michigan-based startup Our Next Energy has unveiled a brand new anode-free battery pack designed to slash cell price as a lot as 50% whereas delivering as much as 600 miles (965 km) of driving vary, the corporate mentioned Tuesday.
The younger firm hopes to start producing its Gemini pack at a brand new 20-gigawatt-hour U.S. manufacturing plant in 2026, founder and Chief Executive Mujeeb Ijaz mentioned in an interview.
Other battery corporations are growing anode-free designs, however ONE’s Gemini battery seems to be distinctive in that it makes use of cells with two totally different cell chemistries, together with one for on a regular basis driving and a second to increase driving vary on longer journeys.
The secret sauce is in Gemini’s large-format range-extender cells. While the usual cells use comparatively standard lithium iron phosphate cathodes and graphite anodes, the range-extender cells are anode-free, which eliminates using graphite and anode-making tools.
The cathodes are designed to make use of a singular mix of lithium and manganese and a a lot decrease share of nickel, whereas eliminating cobalt, in line with Ijaz.
“It has been my long-term aspiration to eliminate both nickel and cobalt,” Ijaz mentioned of two key cathode supplies in most present electrical automobile batteries which might be costlier and fewer sustainable than such widespread supplies as manganese.
While the lithium-rich manganese nickel cathodes are nonetheless being refined, the present model of the range-extender cells makes use of cathodes fabricated from nickel, cobalt and manganese.
By eliminating the anode in these cells, ONE says it will probably slice the cell price in mass manufacturing by $50 per kilowatt-hour – a big financial savings over present prices estimated at $100-$110 per kWh.
“Our goal is to launch the Gemini battery in 2026 with zero cobalt and 26% nickel or less, using manganese as the primary cathode material,” Ijaz mentioned.
ONE’s Gemini battery will probably be displayed Sept. 13-15 at The Battery Show in Novi, Michigan.
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Source: auto.economictimes.indiatimes.com