Zenlab Energy fast charge silicon lithium-ion battery could be ready for commercialisation.
Zenlabs Energy, an advanced lithium-ion cell company, has announced that Idaho National Laboratory (INL) has successfully tested over 1,000 charge-discharge cycles from their high-energy Silicon anode pouch cells.
Zenlabs is the recipient of $4.8 million, 50% cost share development contract from the United States Advanced Battery Consortium LLC (USABC) to develop low-cost, fast-charge electric vehicle (EV) batteries.
As a part of the USABC program, Zenlabs delivered its 12 Ah capacity, 315 Wh/kg specific energy pouch cells to several national laboratories for evaluation. The cells tested by INL have completed 1,000 dynamic stress test (DST) cycles following the USABC three-hour charge protocol and over 900 DST fast charge cycles using a 4C rate or 15-minute charging protocol under 100% depth of discharge (DOD).
The high-rate capable cells can be charged to 80% of their capacity in 10 minutes and to 90% of their capacity in 15 minutes. Zenlabs silicon anode cells enable a 300-mile range car where 240 miles can be charged in 10 minutes while potentially delivering up to 300,000 miles.
For the last 30 years, the lithium-ion industry has used graphite as the preferred anode material. Silicon anodes are considered to be the next generation anode technology due to their high storage capacity, but challenges with poor cycle life and swelling have delayed their introduction.
Dr. Herman Lopez, Founder & CTO
“Zenlabs has solved the durability challenges associated with high-capacity silicon anodes and has demonstrated 1,000 charge-discharge cycles showing the technology is ready for commercialization,”
Idaho National Laboratory validates 1000 charge-discharge cycles from Zenlabs’ Silicon anode-based Lithium-ion cells, Fremont California, February 11, 2021
