Solid power: solid electrolyte batteries
Solid Power is a Colorado-based startup developing solid-state batteries, founded in 2011. Their lithium-ion batteries are said to be safer, more reliable at high temperatures, more powerful and less expensive than their non-solid-electrolyte equivalents.
Solid Power solid electrolyte and its batteries
Today’s electrolytes are liquid and, in the case of the main batteries, flammable, leading to safety risks. A solid electrolyte would not only be safer, but would also theoretically deliver higher performance. This is one of the key areas of research in the battery sector.
Solid Power has developed a sulfide-based solid electrolyte and batteries based on it. Batteries would be safer, more reliable at high temperatures, more powerful and less expensive. They report having carried out a number of tests, including nail penetration, overcharging and short-circuiting. No ignition or rupture of the tested cell was observed.(source)
The company markets several types of battery based on its solid electrolyte:
- A cell with a silicone anode and an NMC cathode.
- A more conventional cell with a lithium anode and an NMC cathode.
- A cell with a lithium anode and an original “conversion type” cathode, which would be particularly inexpensive and have a high specific energy.
In 2020, they announced that they had produced 20Ah batteries with a capacity of 330Wh/kg. They could operate from -10°C to 70°C and charge to 50% in 15 minutes at ambient temperatures.
Solid Power history and financing
Solid Power is a spin-off from the University of Colorado Boulder, founded in 2011 by Doug Campbell, Conrad Stoldt and Sehee Lee with funding from DARPA. In 2013, they received a $4.5 million grant from ARPA-E, then, in 2014, signed a $2.9 million contract to develop battery technology. In 2017, they sign a partnership with BMW to develop solid-state batteries for electric vehicles. The first round of financing takes place in 2018
A pilot plant becomes operational in 2019, in Louisville, Colorado (USA). In 2020, batteries with a storage capacity of 320Wh/kg are produced. The following year, Solid Power raises a spectacular $135 million from a group of investors led by BMW Group, Ford Motor Compatny and Volta Energy Technologies. A second plant is announced shortly afterwards in Thornton, Colorado, to produce 30 tonnes of solid electrolytes.
Solid Power goes public on the NASDAQ stock exchange on December 9, 2021, merging with Decarbonization Plus Acquisition Corporation III. The company is currently managed by Dave Jansen.
FAQ
Solid Power’s CEO (Chief Executive Officer) since 2022 has been David B. Jansen. He is assisted by Kevin A Paprzycki (CFO), Joshua R.Buettner-Garette (CTO) and Derek C. Johnson (COO).
Solid Power has raised a total of 381.6 million euros.
Solid Power develops solid electrolyte batteries.
- The blog: https://www.solidpowerbattery.com/blog/
- An interesting article from 2021: https://www.largus.fr/actualite-automobile/batteries-solides-bmw-et-ford-investissent-dans-solid-power-10610399.html