UK-based OXIS Energy, a developer of Li-S battery technologies (earlier post), says it will deploy solid-state Lithium Sulfur (Li-S) cells and battery systems to its clients and partners worldwide by Autumn 2021 for use in trials, proof of concept and demonstrator battery systems for the Aviation, Marine, Defence and Heavy electric Vehicles (HEV) sectors.
OXIS has been collaborating with European manufacturers on the development of solid-state Li-S technology for almost 4 years. As a result of a technological breakthrough three years ago, OXIS has filed 9 new families of patents to protect both Quasi and Solid-State Intellectual Property Rights.
With an identical manufacturing process to conventional Li-S and Li-ion, the delivery of the Quasi Solid-State batteries is achievable by late Autumn 2021, the company claims.
The first generation Quasi Solid-State Li-S cell at 450 Wh/kg Specific energy with an Energy density of 550 Wh/L will be delivered by the Summer of 2022. A target of 550 Wh/kg, 700 Wh/L has already been set for the Autumn of 2023.
The above key performance indicators have been agreed commercially between OXIS and Sanyo Trading company Ltd of Japan to meet customer requirements for the Japanese market. The cell capacity will range between 10-20 Ah.
Independently of the above, OXIS has set forecast targets of 600 Wh/kg and 900 Wh/L to be achieved by 2026.
The attraction of OXIS cells for vehicle markets, is that on average, the battery systems are up to 60% lighter than conventional Li-ion battery systems.
OXIS will commercialize the mass production of the chemical composition of its Quasi and Solid-State cell at its Welsh Plant in Port Talbot, UK. The cells will be mass-produced at its cell manufacturing plant in Juiz de Fora, in the State of Minas Gerais, Brazil. NORDIKA Pharmaceutical of Sao Paulo has already commenced the design work at the factory with completion expected in the Autumn. Commissioning is expected in 2023.
Unlike Li-ion, the cells chemistry manufactured by OXIS Energy does not contain cobalt, manganese, nickel or copper, all of which present serious supply chain and environmental concerns.
OXIS manufactures and produces all aspects and components in the making of the cell. With more than 43 patent families, OXIS has been granted 204 patents for its Lithium Sulfur cell technology. There are 101 patents pending.
