{"id":12903,"date":"2023-05-05T13:20:17","date_gmt":"2023-05-05T13:20:17","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/TheNextWeb=1396170"},"modified":"2023-05-05T13:20:17","modified_gmt":"2023-05-05T13:20:17","slug":"northvolt-targets-zero-emission-aviation-with-superior-lithium-metal-battery","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.londonchiropracter.com\/?p=12903","title":{"rendered":"Northvolt targets zero-emission aviation with \u2018superior\u2019 lithium metal battery"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Swedish low-carbon battery startup<\/a> Northvolt is on a bit of a roll lately. Recently, the company revealed a new collaboration with Scania to produce the <\/span>longest lasting EV batteries<\/span><\/a> on the market. Now, its wholly-owned subsidiary Cuberg has unveiled a program to develop high-performance batteries to achieve \u201csafe and sustainable\u201d electric flight. <\/span><\/p>\n

One of the biggest stumbling blocks to zero-emission electric aviation is, apart from access to renewable energy, battery technology. Today\u2019s batteries are, simply put, too inefficient and too heavy. <\/span><\/p>\n

However, Cuberg says it has already achieved significant milestones in its next-generation lithium metal cell battery technology. This involves <\/span>a lithium metal anode and proprietary liquid electrolyte, which the company says simultaneously solves the interlocking challenges of battery performance and manufacturability. <\/span><\/p>\n

Furthermore, Cuberg says it will have \u201csuperior power and energy capabilities to today\u2019s conventional lithium-ion batteries.\u201d The aim is to develop a breakthrough lithium metal cell boasting an energy density of 1000 Wh\/l by 2025. <\/span><\/p>\n

Significant achievements thus far include building and shipping a<\/span> 20 Ah commercial-format lithium metal pouch cell with specific energy of 405 Wh\/kg. Furthermore, the company has engineered and produced an aviation module based around the 20 Ah cells, with specific energy of 280 Wh\/kg and energy density of 320 Wh\/L. <\/span><\/p>\n

Importantly, the module platform has achieved what is called passive propagation resistance during a verification test campaign, which means it can resist the spread of a thermal runaway event from one cell to another. <\/span><\/p>\n

Thermal runaway is one of the biggest safety concerns with lithiummetal cells, as it may cause the battery to catch fire or explode. As such, the verification is considered a key step when certifying batteries for aviation. <\/span><\/p>\n

Expanding lithium metal cell cycles<\/h2>\n

Meanwhile, lithium metal batteries, as opposed to lithium-ion, can only be recharged a few times before they become unusable. This may be cause for other sustainability<\/a> concerns, given the environmental costs of lithium extraction. <\/span><\/p>\n

However, in a <\/span>third-party validation<\/span><\/a> in July last year, Cuberg\u2019s cell cycle life was confirmed to have been extended to 672 cycles, with energy capacity of 380 Wh\/kg, making it the world\u2019s highest-performing and longest-lived lithium metal cell in a commercially representative cell size. <\/span><\/p>\n

<\/i><\/a>Credit: Northvolt\/Cuberg<\/figcaption>