eVionyx:
Formed in 1995, eVionyx maintains approximately 100,000 square feet of facilities, including electrochemical laboratories, offices, and manufacturing space in the USA and in Taiwan.
Achievments:
For more than seven years, eVionyx has been marshaling great resources to make metal fuel technology possible. The efforts of more than 100 brilliant scientists, engineers, and business executives coupled with investments approaching $80 million have established that metal fuel is more viable, both technically and commercially, than any other current or foreseeable energy technology. And the record of striking demonstrations is the best evidence. For instance, eVionyx holds the world record for the longest distance traveled by a pure electric vehicle (344.67 km). Moreover, eVionyx has demonstrated technology across the entire energy spectrum, from small portable power sources to golf cars and lawn mowers to high powered,
luxury sports cars.
eVionyx at a glance:
- Raised over $80 million in funding to date
- Built a 100+ strong staff and management team
- Created 2 subsidiaries
- eVionyx Taiwan (Transportation-Far East)
- eVtronics (Portable Electronics)
- Established world record “Electric vehicle longest distance traveled,” (The eVictory Project)
- Three production lines in operation
- Strong patent portfolio
- Facilities: labs, 2 manufacturing sites (USA & Taiwan)
The Trouble with Lithium
Implications of Future PHEV Demand for Lithium Supply and Resources
January 2007
Meridian International Research
Lithium Ion batteries are rapidly becoming the technology of choice for the next generation of Electric Vehicles - Hybrid, Plug In Hybrid and Battery EVs. The automotive industry is committed increasingly to Electrified Vehicles to provide Sustainable Mobility in the next decade. LiIon is the preferred battery technology to power these vehicles.
To achieve required cuts in oil consumption, a significant percentage of the world automobile fleet of 1 billion vehicles will be electrified in the next decade. Ultimately all production, currently 60 Million vehicles per year, will have to be replaced with highly electrified vehicles – PHEVs and BEVs.
Analysis of Lithium's geological resource base shows that there are insufficient economically recoverable Lithium resources available to sustain Electrified Vehicle manufacture in the volumes required, based solely on LiIon batteries. Depletion rates would exceed current oil depletion rates and switch dependency from one diminishing resource to another. Concentration of supply would create new geopolitical tensions, not reduce them.
Reliance on other hypothetical, unproven potential sources of Lithium such as Seawater is not a realistic or practical strategy on which to base a technology revolution in the automotive industry.
The alternative battery technologies of ZnAir and NaNiCl are not resource constrained and offer potentially higher performance than current automotive LiIon technology. Research and industrialisation of Electrified Vehicles should also prioritise these alternative battery technologies.
Download the White Paper "The Trouble with Lithium"
(2nd Edition)
Fuel
It is important to understand the difference in energy carriers. For more than a hundred
year, humanity has developed using liquid fuels, coming mostly from petroleum. This
fuel has been so popular for two main reasons: its low cost and its very high energy
density. For example, one kilogram of gasoline carries 80 times more energy than the
new lithium batteries. In 2004, the world consumed over 82 million barrels of petroleum
per day, over 30 billion barrels for that year only, two thirds of which was used in
transportation as the energy carrier for autonomous vehicles.
Batteries
In 1800, Alessandro Volta invented the voltaic pile and discovered the first practical
method of generating electricity. Constructed of alternating discs of zinc and copper with
pieces of cardboard soaked in brine between the metals, the Voltaic pile produced
electrical current. Batteries are closed systems capable of generating current at a certain
voltage. They are categorized as two main types: Primary (not-rechargeable) and
Secondary (rechargeable).
Nickel-Zinc Batteries
The nickel-zinc battery is an alkaline rechargeable system using a nickel cathode (similar
to NiCd or NiMH batteries) and a zinc anode (similar to silver-zinc batteries). Such
batteries are known to be capable of delivering 50-60 Wh/kg and 80-120 Wh/L
depending on the design.
The eVionyx nickel-zinc batteries are maintenance free and are not sensitive to memory
effect. The technology based on the membrane called Membrion allows the transport of
OH- ions and limits the development of dendrites that traditionally occurs when recharging. This results in a longer life of the battery and makes it economically viable for several EV or HEV applications. Cycle Life A review of the literature indicates that Ni-Zn batteries can deliver over 500 cycles (under laboratory environment) of complete discharge (100% DOD) before losing 20% of their rated capacity. Earlier version of these batteries had several failure mechanisms such as zinc migration, shape change, dendritic shorting and hydrolysis of the cellulosebase separator. Dendritic shorting and shape changing have been virtually eliminated through the use of reduced solubility calcium zincate electrode technology. Other failure problems have also been overcome by technical improvements. eVionyx claims that their batteries can handle over 2000 cycles for 90% depth of discharge. Fast Charging The Ni-Zn batteries can be charged in as little as 2.5 hours at a charge rate of C/2. But cells temperature must be checked out when higher currents are being applied. Fast charging may be applied up to a 95% SOC. Final 5% is achieved by a C/4 rate after a five minute rest. Complete fast charge is expected to last less than three hours. Temperature Consideration The performance of alkaline batteries is limited at extreme low temperature due to the freezing point of the electrolyte. This can vary from -25°C for 20% KOH to below -60°C for 31% potassium hydroxide concentration. Typically, 25% KOH freezes at about -38°C. The lower concentration of electrolyte is used in order to reduce zinc solubility and extend its life cycle. In some cases, Ni-Zn batteries can be optimized for extreme cold weather applications by using electrolyte additives which enhance conductivity at cold temperature and depress the freezing point.
