IEEE Power Electronics Magazine - March 2020 - 18

state-of-the-art cathodes with metallic-Li anodes, SSBs can
achieve up to a 50% increase in cell-level energy versus current Li-ion cells. Even greater energy improvements are possible with more advanced cathodes, which is an additional

Table 1. Notable investments and partnerships.
Company

Investor

Type

Battery
-Technology

Quantum Scape

Volkswagen

Investment

SS technology

Solid Power

BMW Group

Partnership

SS technology

Hyundai

Investment

Ford
Samsung
Northvolt

BMW Group

Partnership

Battery
-recycling

Nissan -Alliance

Investment

Lithium-silicon
batteries

Investment

Lithium-silicon
batteries

Umicore
Enevate

Samsung
LG -Chemistry
Sila
- anotechnologies
N

Siemens
Daimler
BMW Group

Partnership

Source: ABI Research.

FIG 2 Solid Power's fully automated, roll-to-roll SSB production
facility. (Source: Solid Power; used with permission.)

area of development for Solid Power." The initial technology
was licensed from the University of Colorado, Boulder. Like
Ford, auto giants BMW and Hyundai are investors in Solid
Power as is battery supplier A123 Systems.
A123 Systems has also partnered with an advancedmaterials company, Ionic Materials, to develop SSBs. By
combining Ionic Materials' advanced, ionically conductive,
polymer-based solid electrolyte with graphite anodes and
metal-oxide cathodes, the partners plan to manufacture
full-scale SSBs by using high-volume Li-ion manufacturing
equipment, which would result in a cost-effective way to
make EVs safer, lighter, and less complex (see "Fast-Charging Electric Vehicle Batteries"). "This unique approach is
expected to enable the high-volume launch of SS technology into the market as soon as 2022," according to the partners. "By not using more exotic electrodes, such as Li-metal,
an SSB with a solid polymer electrolyte can be introduced
to the market much faster." In a press release, Mike Zimmerman, CEO of Ionic Materials said, "The synergy between
our two companies produced a level of cooperation that is
required to succeed in the ever-advancing battery space.
We look forward to our continued success in commercializing this technology."
Earlier this year, Daimler led a US$170 million series E
funding round for Sila Nanotechnologies, which developed
a silicon-based anode (rather than graphite) to improve Liion battery efficiency. Toyota is developing an SSB for its
own vehicle-electrification plan and recently partnered
with Panasonic.
On the government front, the U.S. Department of Energy
has awarded General Motors US$2 million for research and
development of SSBs. This money will be precisely divided
into two parts. While US$1 million will go for the fundamental understanding of interfacial phenomena in SSBs,
the other US$1 million will go into research of hot pressing of reinforced all SSBs with sulfide glass electrolyte. In
a 2014 study, it was shown that all bulk-type SSBs with sulfide glass electrolyte exhibited excellent cycle performance

Fast-Charging Electric Vehicle Batteries
Unlike the largest market for rechargeable batteries for consumer
handsets, the ability to charge quickly (<15 min) is a key necessity for
electric vehicles (EVs). Given the size of the battery and the need to
create a battery that will last at least 10 years with a nonsignificant
amount of degradation, the ability to create a battery with fastcharging capabilities is highly complex.
Consumers in the automotive market desire charge times that
are similar to filling up a vehicle at a gas station. In a bid to meet
consumer demand, automotive market incumbents and infrastructure
providers are continually aiming to develop charging technology to
achieve high-charging powers and establish fast charging times.
Not only do fast-charging stations have a huge impact on the grid,
but they also introduce large stresses on the EV battery. Charging an

IEEE POWER ELECTRONICS MAGAZINE

z March 2020

EV battery requires intercalation of Lithium (Li) ion and electrons
on the electrodes. The process of intercalation of lithium into free
sites slows as more free sites become occupied with Li ions. Trying
to push more Li ions quickly into less free space on the anode
effectively creates an overload, whereby lithium starts to build up
on the anode, unable to find a free site on the anode. This results
in extra stresses, reducing capacity over time in the anode, and
eventually leading to lithium plating, which could lead to short
circuiting, if severe. The same conditions also occur when charging
is carried out in cold temperatures, which significantly reduces the
rate of intercalation.
-ABI Research

IEEE Power Electronics Magazine - March 2020

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