Five UK projects will share up to £55m of funding from research institute the Faraday Institution to help improve the energy storage of batteries.
It’s hoped the research will lead to performance improvements in batteries used for transport and other applications such as grid storage.
The projects, which are expected to run over four years, address various challenges.
Nextrode, led by the University of Oxford, aims to produce high-performance electrodes for lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries, which could enable electric vehicles (EVs) with a longer range and batteries that are more durable.
Two projects will seek to make breakthroughs in Li-ion cathode materials: FutureCat, led by the University of Sheffield, and CATMAT, led by the University of Bath.
The final two projects will look at alternatives to lithium-ion batteries.
NEXGENNA, led by the University of St Andrews, will work to develop a safe sodium-ion battery with high performance, low cost and a long cycle life. The relatively low cost of sodium-ion batteries makes them an attractive next-generation technology, particularly for static energy storage applications and low-cost vehicles, the Faraday Institution explained.
LiSTAR, the Lithium-Sulfur Technology Accelerator, led by UCL, focuses on lithium-sulphur (Li-S) batteries with the aim of taking batteries for automotive and other applications beyond their current limitations.
“It is imperative that the UK takes a lead role in increasing the efficiency of energy storage as the world moves towards low-carbon economies and seeks to switch to clean methods of energy production,” said Neil Morris, CEO of the Faraday Institution. “Improvements in EV cost, range and longevity are desired by existing EV owners and those consumers looking to purchase an EV as their next or subsequent car. Our research to improve this web of battery performance indicators (which are different for different sectors) are being researched, with a sense of urgency, by the Faraday Institution and its academic and industrial partners.”
Tags: electric vehicles