Battery startup ONE has released its latest test results. A Tesla Model S with a modified battery has performed remarkably by logging more than 1,200 kilometers in a single trip.
Battery startup ONE (Our Next Energy) installed a new self-developed battery on a Tesla Model S. According to video released by ONE, this battery allowed the Model S to run a full 752 miles, which is equivalent to 1,203 kilometers, almost double the distance of Tesla's original factory data.
ONE did not just perform simulations in the factory. They drove on highways at an average speed of 90 kilometers per hour across the entire state of Michigan, for a total of 1,203 kilometers without any recharging.
According to the results from a third-party vehicle testing agency, when the modified version of the Model S was run through a simulation at an average speed of 90 kilometers per hour, the single trip results were even more ideal at 882 miles, or approximately 1,411 kilometers. What kind of magic does ONE use to double the battery life of electric vehicles?
It turns out that the new technology ONE has developed can greatly increase the energy density of a battery cell. According to ONE, the original battery pack capacity of the Model S is 100 kWh. In the same battery pack volume, the ONE Gemini battery can provide 199.8 kWh of electricity. Double the power, while battery life greatly increases.
"The energy density of our Gemini battery system is 416 Wh/L while the original Tesla's is 245 Wh/L. The Gemini also uses nickel-cobalt-manganese cathode and graphite anodes." ONE pointed out that power increased by 99.8 kWh. However, weight also increased by 331 kg and the density of the new battery is approximately 231 Wh/kg.
Technically, ONE will test different anode and cathode materials in 2022 including graphite-free, cobalt-free, and other combinations, and will also test the effect of using lithium iron phosphate batteries with the goal of further increasing density to 290 Wh/kg.
However, all battery technology points to one final question: Can it be commercialized?
ONE expects to produce approximately 1,000 test cells in 2Q22 as a pilot project for mass production. If all goes well, they will be ready for commercialization by the end of 2022.
Nevertheless, the commercialization of battery technology is not just about performance. Safety, product life cycle, and most importantly, manufacturing costs, all affect whether a battery can become a market leader. So far, we have to be "optimistic but skeptical." After all, ONE has not revealed any technical details to explain how they were able to double battery density.
（Image：ONE）