Published: April 30, 2010
Sion Power Receives ARPA-E Grant to Develop Batteries for Electric Vehicles
TUCSON, Ariz. - (BUSINESS WIRE) - Sion Power Corporation has received a three-year research grant worth up
to $5 million from the United States Department of Energy Advanced
Research Projects Agency - Energy (ARPA-E). Under this program, Sion
Power, in collaboration with BASF, Lawrence Berkeley National Lab and
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, will accelerate the development
of practical, economical and safe lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries for
powering electric vehicles more than 300 miles between charges.
Li-S chemistry offers the highest energy potential of any two solid
elements with more than twice the energy capacity of lithium ion
technology at half the weight. This grant will fund a four-way
collaboration coupling Sion Power's patented materials and process
technologies with expertise provided by national laboratories and the
world's largest chemical company, BASF, to expedite commercial success.
According to Sion Power's CEO, Dr. Dennis Mangino, "We believe this
ARPA-E grant is a strong vote of confidence in the future of our
advantaged Li-S rechargeable battery technology. There is no other known
commercial technology that will be able to match the electric vehicle
driving performance enabled by Li-S batteries once the hurdles of cycle
life and safety are overcome. This grant will allow us to accelerate
that reality."
Performance targets for this program are to exceed 500 Wh/kg and 500
cycles at commercially viable recharge rates. By 2016, the goal is to
produce a cell with 600 Wh/kg and 1,000 cycles. While the energy
potential of Li-S is well known, Sion Power has established proprietary
and patented materials and methods for protecting the lithium metal
anode which differentiates its approach from all other known Li-S
research efforts. These advances directly improve cycle life and safety
while allowing higher energy capacities to be achieved. Sion Power
batteries contain no heavy metals and are environmentally preferred over
other technologies.
All major automotive manufacturers are vigorously pursuing the
introduction of hybrids, plug-in hybrids and/or all-electric vehicles
that provide the range and comfort consumers have come to expect in
automobiles. Sion Power's focus is to be the first rechargeable battery
company to develop battery technology that can safely and affordably
meet these expectations. Sion Power believes that by utilizing Li-S
technology, a battery pack weighing less than 700 lbs can power a 3,500
lb five-passenger vehicle more than 300 miles.
About Sion Power:
Privately held Sion Power Corporation is the global leader in the
development of a new generation of high-energy, rechargeable
lithium-sulfur batteries for portable power and electric vehicle
markets. Sion Power has assembled a world-class team of 62 employees
dedicated to advancing Li-S battery technology. The company has more
than 100 U.S. and international patents and is headquartered in Tucson,
Arizona. Further information is available at www.sionpower.com.
Sion Power Corporation
John Kopera, Director of Commercial
Operations
520-799-7500
jkopera@sionpower.com
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