European Project ALISE Making Progress toward a Lithium-Sulfur EV Battery
The pan-European project ALISE is showing promising results in the development of lithium-sulfur (Li-S) rechargeable batteries for applications in electric or electric hybrid vehicles that can be connected to the smart grid. The project, which involves 16 partners including universities, research centers, and companies from 5 different EU Member States, developed a Li-S battery with an energy over 310Wh/kg which is lighter, with very high energy density and free of critical raw materials. (image above © Leitat)
Batteries are still the limiting factor for mass scale adoption of EV and there is a need for new batteries that enable higher driving range, higher safety and faster charging at lower cost. Li-S is a promising alternative to Li-ion free of critical raw material and non-limited in capacity and energy by material of intercalation.
Today, Li-S is lighter than Li-ion and has reached only 17% of the sulfur theoretical energy density (2600Wh/kg) at cell prototype level (440Wh/kg), with potentially 800Wh/L achievable by improving materials, components and manufacturing. ALISE is dedicated to the development of new materials and on the understanding of the electro-chemical processes involved in the lithium sulfur technology (TRL4).
The project is focused to achieve 500Wh/kg stable Li-S cell. The project involves dedicated durability, testing and LCA activities that will ensure the safety and adequate cyclability of the battery being developed and availability at competitive cost. ALISE is given real breakthrough regarding new components, cell integration and associated architecture.
Li-S technology has been assessed at module level and simulated at pack level for PHEV and BEV hybridization. The results show 15% weight reduction at battery pack level for the same volume with respect to Li-ion with improvement of the electrical driving range about 2% to 10% respectively for BEV and PHEV.
Depiction of Commercial products and ALISE partners interest in taking innovation to Market. (click on image to enlarge)
