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EV WORLD EXCLUSIVE ARTICLE |
A123 Systems 26650 nanophosphate lithium-ion battery. Unlike other lithium-ion battery developers, A123 chose early on to manufacture a complete battery, including its internal materials. The company claims its battery offers twice the power density of comparable 'old-technology' lithium ion cells.
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A123 Delivers on Nanotechnology Promise
By Bill Moore
Interview with A123 Systems vice president Ric Fulop about his company's nanotechnology lithium-ion battery
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Open Access Article Originally Published: February 17, 2006
Although the technology behind the A123 battery was developed at M.I.T., like many other manufacturers, A123 has chosen to manufacture its products in Asia. Fulop explained that in the new product "game" it's not enough to have great technology, you must also have high quality mass production capabilities at competitive prices. He doesn't rule out setting up American production plants some day, especially if large carmaker orders require it, but for now, to be competitive with other Asian rivals, they have to rely on Asia's production capabilities.
Because of its nanophosphate chemistry, A123 asserts that it's battery is the first "intrinsically safe" lithium-ion cell on the market.
"There is no risk for thermal runaway," Fulop claimed, which has been a concern with older lithium chemistries. "This is the first high-power lithium chemistry to offer that benefit."
He said that the combustive-potential of early lithium-ion batteries was like building a bomb, although a better analogy might be setting off a volcano because the materials in the battery would self-ignite and melt at the temperature of molten lava. Not a good thing to happen to your laptop or cellphone, especially on airplane at 37,000 feet.
Thermal runaway has hindered carmaker adoption of the chemistry, favoring instead more stable NiMH batteries, which are what currently help power all of today's modern hybrids.
Assuming A123 -- and other lithium-ion manufacturers like Valence -- have tamed the thermal beast, how does the Watertown, Massachusett company's battery compare to the competition?
Fulop contends that if you place their battery next to SAFT's lithium-ion cell at the same power rating, A123's battery has twice the energy density. In addition, to also being "intrinsically safe", it also offers "twice the life." And it's also already in high production and it's a "green" chemistry without any cobalt, a rare but toxic element.
On the subject of sustainability and recycle-ability, Fulop noted that A123 is one of the first truly environmentally safe batteries. Both its anode and cathodes can be safely deposited in landfills without environmental consequences. He also pointed out that because cobalt is such a rare, strategic metal, that there simply isn't enough of it in the world to put it in batteries for electric-drive vehicles.
EV World asked him how he thinks federal government research dollars like those proposed in the recent State of the Union address should be spent. He replied that he believes the US Advanced Battery Consortium is probably the best organized entity of its type and has a world-class program for developing better automotive battery technology.
"Obviously, the more funding they receive, the faster this is going to happen."
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17 comments so far...
19-Nov-2006
37631
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A123 is being sued for patent infringement. Altairnano's Nanosafe battery material is patented, and the specs are much better. The choice is clear.
Posted by: chee kit lim
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01-Sep-2006
31808
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to andy jerry:
yep, I get it :)
(too bad I cant afford it :( )
Posted by: Ben Fumi
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27-Oct-2006
35604
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"Jim Stack:
Richard Harding askes a great question, where is all the lithium. Check out this link http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/lithium/450301.pdf"
Thanks great link. Will have to start investing in Chile it seems!
Posted by: L L
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22-Jul-2006
28769
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3000W/kg is a measurement of power density, not energy density. The energy density of these cells is actually a little less than regular Lithium Ion because the operating voltage is a bit less at 3.3 versus 3.7. But the power density and corresponding discharge and charge rates are really high, which makes them very well suited to hybrid vehicles.
They also support a 100 depth of discharge with minimal capacity loss to 1000 cycles. That's also much better than existing cell types, and also lends itself to depletion mode plug-in hybrids.
Compare A123 to Altairnano which has a much lower operating voltage.
Posted by: Jeff Chan
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22-Jul-2006
28770
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That should read 100% depth of discharge, which again is very good.
Posted by: Jeff Chan
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25-Jun-2006
26540
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There is a real breakthrough that A123 system has achieved. It apparently is being overlooked but as soon as I heard it, I knew it was the Holy Grail we been looking for… and I don’t seem to understand how no one else is seeing it,
THE BATTERY CAN BE RECHARED (90%) IN JUST 5 MINUTES. I don’t think anyone really understand this is the Holy Grail, this is the real breakthrough. Now you can make a battery power car that can go 100 miles+, stop to recharge at you local gas station (every gas station has electricity) as long as it takes you to fill up your car, you recharged your batteries at a cost of equivalent to a $1.00 a gallon. BTW - The cost of the car, is less than you pay now because there is no gas engine in it. Does anyone else get it?
- Andy Jerry afjerry@yahoo.com
Posted by: Andy Jerry
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18-Feb-2006
12984
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Pardon my ignorance, but how big are the World's supplies of Lithium, and where are these?
Just pondering....
Posted by: Richard Harding
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17-Feb-2006
12966
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Any Li-Ion configuration still using liquid chemistry will never be practical or affordable enough for mass market EVs, hybrids or plug-ins. The only Li-Ion battery that will ever meet the challenge is the solid-state roll-to-roll protocol also developed at MIT, but sadly currently in licencing hell, and defacto, in commercial limbo.
Posted by: Remy Chevalier
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18-Feb-2006
12990
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DeWalt Power Tools will be marketing their tools, containing the A123 battery, in May this year. Other than cost, what is to prevent someone from buying a bunch of these tools and then taking out the batteries and putting them in an EV?
Posted by: Arnold Larsen
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18-Feb-2006
12995
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From SeattleEVA.org site:
The A123:26650 size,3.6V,2.2ah,70gms.
An available Li-Ion Cell:18650 size, 3.6V,2.2ah,44.5gms.
It seems that the A123 is larger and heavier than a typical Lithium cell of the same energy capacity. The chief advantage is the larger charge and discharge rates of the A123 (up to 30C) compared to the Li Ion Cell. But I'd think ultra caps (500,000+ cycles) in addition to ordinary Li Ion cells, might be a better way to accomplish the same thing.
Posted by: Jim Beyer
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18-Feb-2006
12996
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Mr. Harding, the following is a quote from a publication by Resources Canada: ---------------------------------------------"Lithium is the lightest of the metals in the periodic tablewith an atomic weight of 6.941. It is a naturally occurringsubstance that is widely distributed in trace amounts inmost rocks, soils and natural waters. Lithium mineralsoccur mainly in granitic pegmatites. Spodumene, alithium-aluminum silicate, and naturally occurringlithium-containing brines are the main sources of lithium.SQM reports that world use of lithium for batteriesaccounts for 19% of global use, lubricating greases for16%, frits for 12%, glass for 9%, refrigerants for 8%, alu-minum alloying for 6%, pharmaceuticals for 5%, polymersfor 5%, and other uses, including those in ceramics andenamels, another 20%." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------Lithium probably will remain expensive due to the cost of extracting it. However, Lithium batteries should be highly recyclable, so that battery cost can be recouped when trading in for a new lithium rechargeable battery. With widespread use of Lithium car batteries, expect the cost of Lithium to rise much higher due to escalating demands, therefore the strategy is to delay plugged-in hybrids and focus on gasoline-electric hybrids with small battery packs first, or else no one will be able to afford electric car. NiMh should continued to be used, and the new report about Firefly Lead-Foam-Acid battery also sounds promising.
Posted by: roger pham
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18-Feb-2006
13002
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Actually, I think the chief advantage is safety with high power. The cells are (going by your info) somewhat denser than the Valence batts, with much higher power rates. Also, as they are actually being sold in volume, costs should be competitive. As mentioned, power vs. energy is a tradeoff. It is not clear how high they could go.
Not being explosive is a huge competitive advantage which should not be dismissed lightly.
If you look at their cycle curve, at 1C discharge rates, they still have >95% of original capacity.
You are right that this is not the densest battery around, but, there are things to make one go .. hmmm.
Posted by: David Navas
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19-Feb-2006
13014
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Any info about pricing? The best and most affordable Li-ion tested over the years in EV so far are TS from China and they are about $2/Ah. I doubt this battery is anywhere close to it..
Posted by: Adam Amper
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19-Feb-2006
13029
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Richard Harding askes a great question, where is all the lithium. Check out this link http://minerals.usgs.gov/minerals/pubs/commodity/lithium/450301.pdf
It shows a lot in Chile,China, Russia and Australlia. The USA is also on the top of the list.
Jim
Posted by: Jim Stack
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21-Feb-2006
13083
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Back of the notebook calculations using the USGS
site. The first 100k charge depleation cars will use 6-15 KWh battery packs at 500Wh/kg thats ~20kg. of Li per each /10KWh .100k cars uses 2milKg. or 4 millbs or 2k tons. Thats the intire US yrly production. With 10% of the cars in the USA Li charge depleation Hybrieds things get very dicey. The USGS doesent say that very little of that Li is in the chemical form the is attrative for use in batterys. The Brizalian supply, one of the worlds largest is in a none favorable state (takes a lot of enegery to convert to battery grade material) and is layiered under the Rain forest and would have to be striped mined. There is some real issues with supply. the small Li batteryes ,that are not being recyled right now, are over +$3,000 / Kwh. Imagine the cost of Li after the first 100k cars.
Posted by: Lin Higley
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12-Mar-2006
14129
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So when will the Remote Controlled racing industry get these batteries? The R/C sport puts batteries through more abuse than any other activity besides dead shorting the cell and if A123 was smart they would have been tossing cells at the sport along time ago. Anyone can claim to have a better battery, but claiming is diferent from finishing first place at a race.
Posted by: Josh Fitzwater
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13-Jun-2006
25247
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Jim Beyer, The A123 company website claims over 3000W/kg charge density. This would approximately translate to twice the capacity of standard Li-Ion, per unit weight. Elsewhere, they have also said that it delivers twice the power.
So the A123:26650 should be approx. 6 ah, and not 2.2 ah. Could it be that the preliminary samples are underrated?
Unfortunately the website does not give the capacity of the 26650, and it makes you wonder.
Posted by: Michael Mobas
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