AUTONEWS

Company launches battery designed for racing vehicles

The British company Johnson Matthey, with the help of the German battery manufacturer EAS Batteries, created a new type of cylindrical lithium cell with a cathode. At the heart of the battery is JM's proprietary eLNO technology, which promises better lithium battery performance, including high capacity and high currents. For the first time, the new batteries will be installed in a Formula E race car and will enter series production from 2024.

EAS Batteries and Envision Virgin Racing Delta Cosworth will be on display on the opening day of the COP26 climate change conference in Glasgow, Scotland, from 31 October to 12 November this year. Meanwhile, we only know about batteries their form factor – 60 mm in diameter and 200 mm in length, as well as the innovative cathode type.

Johnson Matthey's eLNO technology is a nickel-rich lithium-nickel oxide layered cathode. Due to the eLNO cathode, the battery capacity (energy density) promises to be about 20% more than in the case of traditional NMC 622 lithium cells (60% nickel, 20% manganese and 20% cobalt). Increased capacity easily converts to power and increases mileage on a single charge.

JM uses a patented stabilizer and surface modification to prevent instability during cell service, which is common with other high nickel and low cobalt cathode compositions, and ensures long battery life.

The technology will be implemented in electric racing cars. This is an excellent testing ground for extreme battery stress. Along the way, Johnson Matthey is building a complex in Poland to produce these batteries. The plant will be built in 2022. It will start series production of batteries in 2024, after which innovative batteries will be available to manufacturers of passenger vehicles and other electric vehicles.