Solid Power, a developer of solid-state rechargeable batteries, announced a partnership with the BMW Group. Solid Power’s solid-state batteries contain no liquid electrolyte. Instead, they are made of inorganic materials that produce with higher energy density, without volatile or flammable components. Because the materials are stable they have a long shelf life and can handle high temperatures. They are also safer.
Solid Power batteries provide substantially higher energy than conventional lithium ion (2-3X greater) while also enabling lower cost systems due to the potential for eliminating many of the costly safety features typically associated with lithium-ion systems.
The BMW Group is committed to the electrification of automotive transport. It is adding more electric vehicles and will offer wireless electric vehicle charging. The batteries are expected to be used to power the xEV Platform. BMW has gotten flack and lawsuits for the BMW i3 ReX that loses power on the freeway or hills.
BMW Group is partnering with Solid Power in a joint effort to develop Solid Power’s solid-state batteries for electric vehicle applications. In this effort, the BMW Group will assist Solid Power to advance its technology in order to achieve performance levels required for high performance electric vehicles.
Solid Power’s team focuses on developing and scaling competitive solid-state batteries, paying special attention to safety, performance, and cost. This technology has great potential to provide the BMW Group’s electric vehicles with increased driving range and a battery with a longer shelf-life that can withstand high temperatures.
Doug Campbell, founder and CEO of Solid Power said” We’re looking forward to working with BMW on pushing the limits on developments around xEV batteries.”
The development cycle for the batteries could be five to ten years.
Fisker, recently filed a patent for solid-state batteries. The Fisker batteries deliver 2.5 times the energy density of typical lithium-ion batteries – with the potential of costing one third of the 2020 projected price of those batteries due to advances in materials and manufacturing. The battery will deliver a vehicle range of more than 500 miles on a single charge, and charging times as low as one minute Solid state technology has 25x more surface area. Toyota is also working on solid-state batteries.
Capitalizing on continued market expansion, Solid Power has experienced rapid company growth throughout the first-half of 2017. The battery developer recently moved into a state-of-the-art facility in Louisville, Colorado. The brand-new facility will allow Solid Power to triple its footprint and build out the capabilities necessary to deliver commercial-quality solid-state battery prototypes, from new material synthesis through cell and battery assembly. Solid Power
Established in 2012 as a spin-out company from the University of Colorado Boulder, based on ground-breaking research in solid-state battery technology, the company has an exclusive goal of commercializing the company’s technology for battery-powered devices such as electric vehicles, portable electronics, aircraft, and satellites. For more information, visit