IT giant, IBM is looking to develop a lithium-ion battery pack which would allow a family-sized electric car to travel 500 miles on a single charge.
Announcing today that two new collaborators-Asahi Kasei and Central Glass-will join its Battery 500 Project, IBM is working to bring a prototype battery, first produced in 2009, into real-world use.
The project is pinning its hopes on lithium-air battery technology, which could help electric cars achieve a driving range comparable with that of a conventional petrol car. Lithium-air batteries have a higher energy density than lithium-ion batteries due to their lighter cathodes. To transform electric cars into popular, mainstream models, IBM estimates that the energy density of batteries needs to be ten times greater than that of conventional lithium-ion batteries, and lithium-air batteries could help EVs achieve this.
The two new partners in the project will help expand the depth of the research into the technology.
Asahi Kasei, one of Japan’s leading chemical manufactures and a leading global supplier of separator membrane for lithium-ion batteries, will use its experience in innovative membrane technology to create a critical component for lithium-air batteries.
Central Glass, a leading global electrolyte manufacturer for lithium-ion batteries, will use its chemical expertise in this field to create a new class of electrolytes and high-performance additives specifically designed to improve lithium-air batteries.
“These new partners share our vision of electric cars being critical components of building a cleaner, better world, which is far less dependent on oil,” said Dr. Winfried Wilcke, IBM’s Principle Investigator who initiated the Battery 500 Project. “Their compatible experience, knowledge and commitment to bold innovation in electric vehicle battery technology can help us transfer this research from the lab onto the road.”
