Our Next Energy (ONE) from Michigan, USA, says it has created an anode-free battery cell with an energy density of 1007 Wh per liter and it does this in a combination new battery innovation system. It takes a standard LFP battery and combines it with their new anode-free battery. The LFP battery does the normal charge discharging for short distances (200km) and the anode-free part provides the 800km of range. They call the system Gemini. With the explosion in electric vehicles – cars, trucks and pickup trucks, new technologies will have a ready place.
Using their battery, they were able to drive a Tesla 1200 km (752 miles) on a single charge.
Lower Production Cost Down to $50 per kWh
ONE says that the new cell eliminates the need for graphite and anode manufacturing equipment, which could make it possible for manufacturing costs to be as low as $50 per kWh.
“Our prismatic anode-free cell is produced with approximately half of current cell manufacturing equipment for equivalent capacity, allowing us to sharply reduce scale-up cost. Our mission is to double the range of electric vehicles, use safer, more sustainable raw materials and establish a local supply chain.
Mujeeb Ijaz, the founder and CEO (Quote CleanTechnica)
Combination In “Gemini”
Anode-free cells typically have low cycle life compared to conventional cells, which has not made them viable all by themselves in an automotive setting with the requirement for regular charging. But the LFP battery provides the short distances, and the anode-free provides a backup and charges the LFP. The anode-free cells store 450 miles of range and act as an energy reserve that recharges the LFP cells when needed using a proprietary DC-DC process.
I.e. The LFP cells cover 99% of a vehicle’s duty cycle and the range extender is used for 1%.
This is similar to a petrol battery electric hybrid, where the battery does the first short distance, and the petrol engine provides longer distance. The problem with the petrol hybrid is that is still has the ICE engine, and often the battery is not used.
