Ionblox’s SiOx-Based, High-Energy, High-Power Li-Ion Battery for Performance Electric Vehicles and Electric Aviation

Abstract

Demands on land-based, high-performance electric vehicles (EVs) and electric aviation, by means of electric conventional takeoff and landing aircraft (eCTOLs) and electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft (eVTOLs) demand more on a secondary cell chemistry than ever before. There are many secondary cells on the market that offer energy density, power density, fast-charge capability, or cycle life, but few, if any other manufacturing-ready cells, offer a combination of all four. IONBLOX has solved this by pairing it’s patented, Pre-lithiated SiOx anode with a high nickel, NMC cathode to produce cells exceeding 330 wh/kg. Herein we describe the performance of our 32 Ah cell, featuring high-energy density, high-power density, extreme fast charge capability, and good cycle life, within a package that is already in production.In particular, challenges for the eVTOL market will be addressed, which require peak power demand on the cell at low state-of-charge, without reducing the energy density. Methods for characterizing cells for such high-power applications will be further explored. DCIR pulse characterization and more customized testing like usable energy testing, which is important for identifying the applicable energy density for high-power use cases, will be demonstrated. Additionally, extreme fast charge capability is described on our large format cells with 5 min charge to >60% total cell capacity, over 1000 cycles. This shows such a cell is up to the expectations of a consumer familiar with the timing of a standard gasoline pump. Contribution from the information presented herein demonstrates the state of Si-based anode chemistry and can serve as useful guidelines to the academic community as future technologies are pursued for similar applications Figure 1