A German Startup’s Breakthrough in Electric Vehicle Battery Technology
A groundbreaking development has emerged from a German startup that could revolutionize electric vehicle battery cells. The startup claims to have created a battery chemistry that is not only cheaper and more energy-dense but also less harmful to the environment compared to current lithium-ion cells. However, the road to commercialization appears to be a lengthy one.
Theion, the German startup, recently announced that it is nearing the completion of a 15 million euro Series A funding round to further develop its innovative sulfur-crystal battery chemistry. This new chemistry is based on proprietary anode technology that Theion believes will address one of the main challenges faced by sulfur-based battery chemistries—extending battery life.
Theion sulfur-crystal EV battery development
Theion’s goal with this new chemistry is to achieve an energy density of 1,000 Wh/kg, which is three times higher than the leading-edge nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) cells used in vehicles like the Tesla Cybertruck. This increased energy density would allow for much lighter cells without compromising on range or enable increased range within the same volume.
One of the key advantages of Theion’s sulfur-crystal battery chemistry is that it does not rely on nickel or cobalt, thereby addressing environmental and human-rights concerns associated with the mining of these metals. Theion claims that its cells could have a significantly lower carbon footprint and cost compared to conventional cells, as sulfur is abundantly available and more cost-effective than the materials used in NMC cells.
Stellantis STLA Medium platform
However, the real test for Theion’s sulfur-crystal batteries will be their longevity in terms of cycle life. The startup acknowledges that its batteries must maintain performance over 1,000 charge/discharge cycles to be commercially viable. Theion is working towards this target after initial testing of 500 Wh/kg cells at 500 cycles before moving into production.
While research into lithium-sulfur batteries for electric vehicles has been ongoing for years, the commercialization of this technology has been a challenge. Other companies like Stellantis have also partnered with startups aiming to bring sulfur-based batteries to market. Theion’s efforts, along with others in the industry, will determine if sulfur batteries can finally make their way into production electric vehicles.