Recent advances in material technology have led to the development of new types of energy storage devices that greatly surpass conventional lithium-ion batteries in terms of performance. This September, Skeleton Technologies GmbH announced that it is teaming up with the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) to develop a “SuperBattery”. Skeleton is a startup based in Estonia, while KIT is one of Germany’s major research and educational institutions. According to the press release from Skeleton, the SuperBattery is designed to be fully charged in just 15 seconds and has a huge potential in the application field of electric vehicles (EV). ...  more

Lithium-ion batteries now represent the most common type of rechargeable battery. They are used in a wide range of applications from consumer electronics (e.g., batteries for smartphones and laptop computers) to electric vehicles to utility-scale energy storage systems. However, many alternative battery technologies have emerged in the recent years and are poised to compete head-to-head against lithium-ion batteries. ...  more

Can the pristine lithium battery become the sensational “upgraded” revolutionary technology? The scientists of Clemson University and TU Delft have respectively developed a lighter battery recently that is capable of a faster charging speed, which paves a trail blazing path for the next generation lithium battery. ...  more

Tesla’s Battery Day has been postponed repeatedly due to the pandemic, though we will be able to witness the ace in the hole from Tesla after another week (September 22nd). As the Battery Day is focused on the theme of battery, Musk may not appear on the stage alongside new vehicles. However, the transcending technology that is grasped by the real-life “Iron Man” is allegedly full of surprises. Furthermore, Tesla may also announce the expansion program for future energy storage businesses. ...  more

Lithium-ion batteries are used in a wide range of consumer electronics like smartphones and laptop computers, and their applications are now expanding to transportation and utility. While they are becoming more and more indispensable in people’s technological lives, the energy storage market is also seeing rapid advancements every day. With the emergence of new energy storage technologies that promise better performance, can lithium-ion batteries retain their dominant position over the long term? ...  more

Scientists have been hoping to expand the power storage capacity of lithium-ion batteries by converting graphite anode to lithium or silicon, where users will no longer have to worry about the battery of smartphones, nor the distance between charging stations when driving electric vehicles. Now, American scientists have discovered another alternative material that possesses reasonably well efficiency: phosphorus. ...  more

Electrolyte, which plays the crucial role of transporting ions between the cathode and the anode of a battery, has been both the strength and the weakness of lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries. Currently, the carbonate electrolyte that is inside conventional Li-ion batteries has a decent level of conductivity and is low in cost. However, its high flammability poses a serious safety risk. ...  more

Single-use batteries (or primary cells) continue to be the mainstream battery technology that powers a wide range of electronic devices and household appliances such as TV remotes, portable radios, and kids’ toys. ...  more