LiSER: Game-changing Li ion battery technology for Electric Vehicles

Published by Dr Jawahar Nerkar on January 28, 2022

We are on the threshold of a new Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV) era with a widespread adoption of a range of Li-ion battery (LIB) -operated electric vehicles globally. The BEV market will continue to grow exponentially with the demand of more affordable vehicles incorporating safe, high-energy (long range), high-power (fast charging), and longer lasting LIBs. However, the current crunch of thinned supply of BEVs due to several factors such as, shortage of Li ion battery supply chain components (especially critical battery minerals: cobalt and nickel), semiconductors etc. hindering the reduction in the EV price. However, the utilisation of cost effective, abundantly available high performing LIB materials in combination with an efficient, simplistic, safe, and structurally robust LIB pack configuration could be a game-changer for the EV’s LIB technology.

Magnis Energy Technologies’ LIB technology partner, Charge CCCV (C4V) is gearing to be at the forefront of the emerging LIB technology with its demonstration of a patented in-house LIB cell design, ‘Lithium Slim Energy Reserve’ (LiSER).

C4V’s LiSER cell technology

C4V’s innovative and unique LIB cell technology will enable the production of module-free, ‘cell-to-pack’ or cell-to-chassis’ battery packs and will facilitate the original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to produce the BEV with enhanced performing high energy density LIB systems at both gravimetric and volumetric levels.

Let’s understand the architecture of a conventional Li ion battery used in EVs and energy storage systems.

LIBs used to power EVs or battery energy storage systems consist of smaller battery units called ‘Cells’, the main building blocks of the battery pack. Li ion cells are produced in mainly three formats (form factors): cylindrical, pouch and prismatic and each of these types have their own advantages and disadvantages.

Li ion cells are typically arranged and connected in ‘Modules’ in specific combination: series and/or parallel to achieve required voltage and current capability, respectively.

All the modules are then connected to an electronic system called a ‘Battery Management System’ (BMS), the most critical safety system of the battery pack. BMS monitors and controls the overall battery health (by monitoring and controlling individual cell voltage and temperature) and protects the whole battery from overcharging and over-discharging.

In addition to the BMS, a battery pack also encompasses a variety of components: thermal management system (mainly the cooling system), battery housing/casing, wiring, connectors etc.

C4V’s advanced LiSER cell technology comprised of tabless prismatic cell design utilizing its patented cobalt and nickel-free, high-performance Bio-Mineralised Mixed-Metal Phosphate (BMLMP) based composition. This first-of-its-kind compact and tabless prismatic cell design supports extra fast charging (EFC) capability enabling the batteries to charge and even discharge (power density) in only a few minutes at high charging currents. Thus, with this single tabless design, LiSER technology is able to achieve higher energy density (cell to pack), high power density retaining high energy density and the fast charging capability. Moreover, the structurally robust and innovative engineered LiSER design has an in-situ cell embedded active thermal management system allowing to maintain the ambient temperature between 20° and 40° C and to effectively operate the cells in extreme external environmental conditions ranging from -40° to 90° C and at higher charging currents.

Source: doi: 1e1126/science.abj5426

BEV battery pack

Recently, several LIB and BEV OEMs are racing to develop their own light weight, cost effective and energy efficient customised structural battery designs, utilising a module-free, Cell-to-Pack (CTP) battery technology where battery cells are directly integrated into the pack eliminating the modular concept of the conventional battery pack configuration.

In 2020, LiFePO₄ (LFP) battery manufacturer, BYD introduced a high volumetric energy density Blade Battery Pack based on the CTP concept utilising the LFP blade battery cells.

LiSER battery technology provides 40-50% more energy and 5 times more power density than LFP batteries.

Key attributes of LiSER cell technology are:

Cobalt- and Nickel-free technology: Significantly reduced dependency on the critical battery materials (Cobalt and Nickel) in the LIB supply chain for BEVs, enhanced LIB safety and lifespan, and significant reduction in the cathode active material cost and hence the overall cost of battery cells.
Superior CTP conversion ratio: This module-free battery pack technology has potential to exhibit an energy density of 190 Wh/kg at the pack level, which is the highest available in the market currently.

BEV battery pack

Top performance: LiSER simplifies the module structure and has been proven to increase the volume utilization rate of a battery pack by 30%. This in turn makes it the best fit for high-speed processes supporting ultra-fast manufacturing solvent free coating speeds of 100 metres/minute and thereby reducing costs to the tune of 20%.
Superior capabilities: By using the in-house patented C4V’s BMLMP technology, LiSER enables the highest voltage of any Li-ion cells at 3.9 Volts. The inherent oxygen deficient BMLMP not only augments battery safety but also delivers a voltage that is at least 20% higher than the LFP formulations currently widely being used in the market.
Highly green footprint: While Nickel-rich NCA or NMC chemistries emit Nickel oxide fumes, when burning with LiSER, the toxic gaseous build-up is non-carcinogenic. LiSER uses elements that are environmental-friendly, sourced with a robust local supply-chain and enable a significantly lower carbon footprint

LiSER's smart cell technology platform offers flexibility to produce cells of different sizes and different capacity (Ah) allowing to cater to multiple verticals.

Magnis and its LIB cell manufacturing partner, iM3NY are excited and looking forward closely working with OEMs, integrating BEV with C4V’s unique LiSER technology that could be the game-changer in the current booming BEV market.

Dr Jawahar Nerkar

2 Comments

houston junk car buyer says:
April 24, 2022 at 2:37 pm
You really make it seem so easy with your presentation but I find this topic to be actually something which I think I would never understand.
It seems too complex and very broad for me.
I am looking forward for your next post, I’ll try to get the hang of it!
Reply
- admin says:
  April 29, 2022 at 1:55 am
  Thanks for your comment on our article regarding our LiSER technology. If there is something in particular you wish answered or explained further, we would be happy to do so.
  We’ve also just published another article that you might find interesting: https://magnis.com.au/li-ion-battery-cell-manufacturing-a-methodical-approach/
  Reply

LiSER: Game-changing Li ion battery technology for Electric Vehicles

Dr Jawahar Nerkar

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