South 8 Technologies, a developer of liquefied gas electrolytes for lithium-ion batteries, has demonstrated high performance with cobalt-free, low-nickel battery cells.

This work is funded by the DOE’s EVs4ALL program. South 8 has partnered with an unnamed automotive OEM on the project. 

The EVs4ALL effort aims to create a reliable, affordable battery that charges quickly and retains range in cold weather. South 8 demonstrated that its LiGas electrolyte was compatible with a 4.6 V commercial LNMO cathode in the first six months of the three-year initiative. Energy retention at -20° C (-4° F) was 96%. According to the company, less than 5% retention is typical for liquid LNMO electrolyte at the same temperature. Additional LiGas electrolyte testing showed 87% energy retention at 40° C (-40° F).

“LNMO is a future cathode material, promising the safety of LFP (lithium iron phosphate) and energy of NMC (nickel manganese cobalt),” said Cyrus Rustomji, Chief Science Officer of South 8. “The challenge has been the electrolyte: conventional solutions break down at LNMO’s high voltage. LiGas does not. LiGas performs well at low temperatures and reduces thermal propagation.”

Source: South 8 Technologies