New Battery Technology Full of “Positive Energy”
XALT Energy and its sister company, Energy Power Systems, are leading the energy storage industry with their innovative lithium ion technology.
Nowadays, more than 80% new energy vehicle in market uses lead-acid battery. Li-ion battery usage is generally low because of its immature power technology and waiting-for-improvement safety performance; furthermore, high-tech Li-ion batteries rely on import, price is higher than lead-acid ones. All these reasons make Li-ion batteries difficult to be widely used in China market. In some sense, the development of new energy vehicles will lift consuming of lead-acid battery.
However, current low-cost lead-acid battery cannot meet our expectation on either performance or lifetime. During my exploration of Detroit, I was able to find one brand-new and advanced PLMTM battery, its planar layered matrix technology was developed by Energy Power Systems, and has low-cost, high-power, and long cycle life. CEO and Co-Founder, Subhash Dhar introduced this innovative technology and prospect of new energy vehicle energy storage systems.
One kind of brand new and advanced PLMTM battery
Although EPS was a young start-up company, it has been in SOP phase in only 3 years, with a no-doubt future. Planar layered matrix technology can provide reliable solution for 12V start-stop tech mild hybrid vehicle, 48V mild hybrid vehicle and fast-charging equipment, and make contribution to world-wide focused emission reduction and environment protection business.
According to Subhash Dhar, PLMTM technology is based on mature, safe and recyclable electric chemical application, it has unique micro structure, electrodes and battery design along with unique combination of power, energy and life, and can reduce corrosion, sulphation and layers. Therefore it can remain low cost, while achieving high power and long life.
PLMTM battery has higher power (3x) and longer cycle life (10x) compared to traditional lead-acid batteries. This technology utilized existing large amount of low cost reusable material, and relied on existing basic equipment and fabrication process. Most importantly, some experts believes only below $125/kWh can battery compete with internal combustion engine in cost, now most EV battery cost is around $400/kWh, Tesla is $240/kWh, but PLMTM battery can achieve below $150/kWh.
Secondly, PLMTM battery can remain stable dynamic charging receivability during its whole life period, just like Li-ion batteries. In start-stop situations, PLMTM battery’s dynamic charging receivability won’t be degraded as cycling, so the fuel economy during start/stop, and remain the micro profit. 5 tons of CO2 can be reduced if OBD-2 realized in 12V system.
PLMTM battery has its abroad market opportunity, and can obtain extraordinary performance under low capital investment and low operation cost, from grid-size service, to integration of renewable energy, to transportation department using mild hybrid.
Expecting closer cooperation with China market
These days, EPS is focusing on plant building in Michigan, and it will begin operation at end of 2015. The plant can integrate R&D, manufacturing and office functions together, with 500,000 MW capability. Michigan government has grant huge tax-exception for launching advanced plant in this district.
At this point, we would like to mention EPS’s sister company – XALT Energy, Subhash Dhar is also the CEO of this company. While EPS is provide solution to PLMTM battery, XALT Energy is a Li-ion battery manufacturer and provider. The new plant in Michigan is going to provide information-share for these two companies.
XALT Energy recently announced its global exclusive agreement with Hybrid Kinetic Group, XALT will provide LTO batteries for China pure electrified buses. Cells are planned to be produced in Midland plant, beginning from 3rd quarter of 2015.
Subhash Dhar said, ”We share the concern about poor air quality in China caused primarily by burning fossil fuels, XALT will contribute to the solution and improving air quality. Facing sever environment pollution, especially haze, China government has taken many actions to re-examination traditional transportation ways. These actions will be demonstrated in long-term large demand of batteries for big-size and mid-size electrified vehicles and electrified buses.”
HK electrified bus batteries will be fully supplied by XALT Energy, every bus will carry high-performance 68-100kWh batteries and can be fast charged in less than 10 minutes. These electrified buses will be loaned to China public transportation runners.
“XALT Energy is very happy to cooperate with HK Group in this program,” Subhash added, “this agreement clearly indicates emergent requirement for clean tech of modern global transportation industry. Protect environment is one of our core value. Comparing to diesel-powered buses, these advanced-battery-carried pure electrified buses can obviously reduce CO2 emission, but also ensure high-power, high-performance and reliability.”