Batteries

Using Ultrasound to Detect Battery Flaws

Researchers from Drexel University have developed a standard testing process to give manufacturers a better look at the internal workings of batteries.

An Affordable, Sustainable New Battery Technology

Traditional Li-ion batteries rely on graphite as an anode material. However, the same graphite structure fails when it comes to sodium or potassium. But, by rethinking the shape of carbon at the microscopic level, researchers found a workaround.

Testing Times: Understanding the Impact of Climatic Conditions on EV Charging Times

Charging times have become a hot topic among automotive OEMs and consumers. Premium cars, in particular, are increasingly defined by their technology. A slick charging experience is one of the ways that premium manufacturers can distance their high-value luxury offerings from more mundane machinery. Read on to learn more.

48V Electrical Systems: A Key to Meeting Evolving Industry Demands

The commercial vehicle industry is at a turning point, facing increasing pressure to improve efficiency, reduce emissions, and meet changing global standards. As vehicle electrification advances and power demands rise, manufacturers are exploring innovative solutions to enhance performance while optimizing fuel consumption. One promising technology trend leading this transition is the adoption of 48V electrical systems. Read on to learn more about them.

Leading the Charge to Better Batteries

A team led by Kelsey Hatzell, Associate Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and the Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment, has uncovered insights that could help power a new type of battery, called an anode-free solid-state battery, past lithium-ion’s limitations.

Multiphysics Modeling and Simulation Enhances BESS Design

Electrical grids and data centers around the world use battery energy storage systems (BESS) as a power source, and the adoption of BESS is only continuing to grow. Read on to learn more about we can enhance BESS.

Wire Feed Laser Welding for Battery Pack Aluminum Enclosure Manufacture in EVs

Lightweight aluminum is a top choice for designing and manufacturing battery pack enclosures due to its durability and ability to enhance vehicle performance. While welding 6000-series aluminum alloys can be challenging, advanced methods like laser welding with filler wire effectively create strong, airtight joints while addressing issues like porosity and cracking. Read on to learn more.

A Successful Catalyst Design for Advanced Zinc-Iodine Batteries

Aqueous zinc-ion batteries have attracted extensive attention due to their high safety, abundant reserves, and environmental friendliness. However, the low electrical conductivity of iodine hinders the redox conversion for an efficient energy storage process with zinc. Read on to learn how a research team addressed the existing issues in Zn-I2 batteries.

Fast-Charging, Long-Running, Bendable Supercapacitor

This technology has potential as a portable power supply in several applications, including electric vehicles, cellphones, and wearable technology.

A Path to Safer, High-Energy Electric Vehicle Batteries

This research has far-reaching implications, offering a path to safer, more efficient batteries that can support the growing demand for electric vehicles. As the world moves towards cleaner energy solutions, these advancements are crucial for making EVs more viable and attractive for consumers. Read on to learn more.

Researchers Develop Efficient Lithium Extraction Method, Setting Stage for Sustainable EV Battery Supply Chains

In the race to meet the growing global demand for lithium, a team of researchers from Rice University’s Elimelech lab has developed a breakthrough lithium extraction method that could reshape the industry. Read on to learn more about it.

Better Texture for Better Batteries

To create the new batteries needed for EVs, mobile devices, and renewable energy storage, researchers have explored new materials, new designs, new configurations, and new chemistry. But one aspect — the texture of the metals used — has been historically overlooked. Read on to learn more.

New Products

See the new products, including Intellias' “Smart Charging Portable Kit,” a comprehensive solution accelerator designed to address the most pressing challenges in the EV charging sector; Marposs' solutions for testing prismatic battery cells; a new Lithium Manganese Iron Phosphate (LMFP) cathode active material developed by Integrals Power; and more.

Anode-Free Solid-State Batteries: Beyond Li-ion’s Limitations

A team led by Kelsey Hatzell, Associate Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and the Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment, has uncovered insights that could help power a new type of battery, called an anode-free solid-state battery, past Li-ion’s limitations. Read on to learn more about it.

Products of Tomorrow

See the products of tomorrow, including a new type of optical receiver able to restore chaotic signals in free-space optical communication links distorted by atmospheric turbulence; a battery that can take any shape; and a new technology for an aircraft configuration that utilizes a strut/truss-braced oblique variable-sweep wing mounted on a constant cross-section geometry fuselage.

How Compressed Air Led to a Battery Breakthrough

Our current battery industry needs to be re-energized. The decades-old technology isn’t always the ideal match for some of our recent advancements, like EVs, or for more extreme environments. Fortunately, some companies are charging up potentially ground-breaking ideas. Read on to learn more.

How Amprius Is Advancing Energy Density for Electric Aircraft Batteries

Dr. Ionel Stefan, CTO, Amprius, is the guest on this episode of the Aerospace & Defense Technology podcast.