Ionblox Debuts Lithium-Silicon Batteries Breaking Barriers of Extreme Fast Charging and Extended Range
The battery industry has long grappled with the critical challenge of balancing high-energy storage and fast charging within a single, durable battery
FREMONT, Calif., October 4, 2023 – Ionblox, a leading innovator in battery technology, today announced the launch of its extreme fast charging lithium-silicon cells designed for electric vehicles (EVs). Leveraging the superior energy storage capability of silicon, the company's new cells dramatically reduce charging times while extending driving range, offering EV manufacturers a significant leap in performance and efficiency.
The Ionblox technology enables extreme fast charging (XFC), achieving 60% of the battery's capacity in just 5 minutes and 80% in 10 minutes. These advancements make it possible to charge electric vehicles in nearly the same time it takes to fill up a gasoline tank, effectively eliminating one of the key barriers to EV adoption. In addition, Ionblox’s high-energy cells allow EV manufacturers to either extend the range of an EV by 30% to 50% using a similarly sized Ionblox battery pack or to reduce weight and cost with a smaller Ionblox battery pack.
"The battery industry has long grappled with the critical challenge of balancing high-energy storage and fast charging within a single, durable battery," said Dr. Herman Lopez, Chief Technology Officer of Ionblox. "Our groundbreaking lithium-silicon technology shatters this barrier. We've engineered high-performance cells that are not only compact and lightweight, but also robust enough for continuous use under 5-minute extreme fast charging, effectively closing the performance divide between electric vehicles and their internal combustion counterparts."
Ionblox's lithium-silicon cells not only charge more efficiently but also maintain their performance over the vehicle life time. Under rigorous testing of large-format 32 Ah capacity pouch cells, Ionblox’s batteries can endure greater than 1,000 extreme fast charge cycles with minimal degradation. This is made possible using a patented pre-lithiated silicon monoxide anode, and a unique cell architecture that can be built on existing cell manufacturing equipment.
In 2022, Ionblox received a new United States Advanced Battery Consortium (USABC) contract to develop low-cost and fast-charge silicon-based cells for EVs. Ionblox has also received a strategic investment from Lilium, a leading eVTOL company. Ionblox extreme fast charging cell technology will enable eVTOLs to fly numerous times per day increasing the amount of time the aircraft spends in the skies.
About Ionblox
Founded in Fremont, California in 2017, Ionblox (previously known as Zenlabs) is a next-generation energy company transforming the future of mobility by land and air. The company has more than 40 issued patents, including for the pre-lithiation of all types of silicon-based anodes. Ionblox’s proprietary pre-lithiated silicon anode and cell design enable multiple performance attributes – fast charging, high energy, high power, and long life at low cost – pushing the limits of traditional battery storage technology and unlocking the viability of widespread electric transportation. Ionblox is leading the electric mobility revolution by delivering superior technology and enabling electric vehicle (EV) and electric vertical take-off and landing vehicle (eVTOL) companies to achieve their goals. Ionblox’s investors include Lilium, Applied Ventures, Temasek and Catalus Capital.
Learn more about Ionblox and how it is transforming the future of electric transportation at www.ionblox.com and LinkedIn (@Ionblox).
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Josh Sweetin
Silverline Communications
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