Solid State Batteries Companies
Solid state batteries are consider to be the future of battery technology. Unlike conventional liquid or sealed lead-acid batteries, solid state batteries are non-fluid solutions that consist of solid electrodes and a solid electrolyte. Solid state batteries will help manufacturers reduce costs, increase energy density and improve safety in battery-powered devices.
With the increasing demand for electronics with longer uptime and more functionality, battery technology must keep pace. As a result, manufacturers continue to explore new battery solutions based on various criteria such as cost, energy density, safety and ease of use. In this article we look at the recent developments in the solid state batteries market by exploring leading companies and their products, including EnerVault, Redox Power, Ultralife Corporation and ZCO Corp.
EnerVault
EnerVault, Inc. is a California-based manufacturer of solid state batteries. Their work focuses on innovating and commercializing an all-solid-state battery with the potential to replace all existing battery technologies in the near future. EnerVault’s solid state batteries are made from vanadium redox-based chemistry.
Vanadium redox flow batteries are non-toxic, non-flammable and use water as the electrolyte. Their battery uses a liquid electrolyte, which is more efficient than the solid electrolyte used in other types of solid state batteries.
EnerVault completed a $55 million round of Series B financing in October 2018 to support the commercialization of its vanadium redox flow batteries that are used for the grid, telecommunications, and transportation applications.
Redox Power
Redox Power Systems, Inc. is a Massachusetts-based manufacturer of solid state batteries. The company is developing a new class of flow batteries, called “redox flow” batteries. These batteries use vanadium ions as the electroactive elements and water as the electrolyte.
Their technology has the potential to deliver cheap, long-lasting and safe batteries that can unlock the full potential of renewable energy, electric vehicles, electric grid and all stationary energy storage applications.
Redox Power’s redox flow batteries are made up of two tanks connected by a pump. One tank contains vanadium dissolved in water. The other tank contains acidic electrolyte. When the two solutions are pumped together, they form a chemical reaction that creates electricity. When the solutions are pumped apart, the reaction stops.
Ultralife Corporation
Ultralife Corporation is a California-based manufacturer of solid state batteries. The company is developing lithium-ion batteries based on a new solid lithium electrolyte. This technology allows lithium-ion batteries to operate at room temperature, which provides a critical advantage in safety, capacity and cycle life when compared to existing lithium-ion batteries.
Ultralife’s solid state batteries are non-toxic and will not catch fire with high-drain or overcharge conditions. Their battery technology has the potential to replace lithium-ion batteries in a variety of applications, including electric vehicles, drones, Internet of Things devices, autonomous vehicles and grid-scale energy storage.
Ultralife completed an undisclosed Series B financing round in January 2019 to accelerate growth and expand its product portfolio.
ZCO Corp.
ZCO Corp. is a South Korean manufacturer of solid state batteries. The company is developing an energy storage system that uses an all solid-state electrolyte. ZCO’s solid state batteries operate at room temperature and are non-toxic. Their battery technology has the potential to be an alternative to lithium-ion batteries in a variety of applications, including electric vehicles, drones, Internet of Things devices, autonomous vehicles and grid-scale energy storage.
ZCO is focusing on high-power applications for their batteries. The company is targeting applications including marine, rail, aerospace and grid storage. ZCO is also developing a battery for use in residential and commercial buildings and is targeting a cost of less than $100 per kilowatt hour.
Conclusion
Solid state batteries are the future of battery technology and are non-fluid solutions made of solid electrodes and a solid electrolyte. Solid state batteries provide benefits such as increased energy density and improved safety as compared to conventional batteries.
Energy storage systems are crucial for a wide variety of applications in which electricity is needed and is not being generated at the same time, such as wind turbines and solar panels. Solid state batteries companies are building future batteries that can improve energy storage systems especially in terms of cost, energy density and safety.