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A Full EV Charge in 5 Minutes? Israeli Startup StoreDot Makes Big Battery Claims

September 03, 2021 by Biljana Ognenova

StoreDot's unique battery chemistry is just the start of the company's interesting claims. It also plans to make its technology open source—and send it to space.

Despite EV drivers' hopes for super-fast charging (200 miles in under 10 minutes), EV batteries remain prone to overheating, internal resistance, dendrite growth, and low capacity. 

Recently, however, an Israeli startup StoreDot filed a patent for an extremely fast-charging (XFC) technology that is said to deliver a full charge in five minutes. What makes the advancement by StoreDot unique is the combination of organic and inorganic hardware and data science software. 

 

Battery packs

Charging time for battery packs, which include hundreds to thousands of battery cells, remains an obstacle in widespread EV adoption. Image used courtesy of StoreDot
 

The company, which has landed 61 patents with 31 more pending, uses machine learning and AI-based software to optimize the safety, energy density, and battery lifecycle of a holistic system. This system is designed from proprietary organic nanomaterials and liquid electrolytes with high-voltage capability.  

 

Five-Minute Charging with a Novel Battery Chemistry

How exactly does this proposed five-minute charging work? StoreDot says it uses a multi-function electrode (MFE) Li-ion battery, which enhances electrolytes and organic binders and delivers a full cell capacity in five minutes at a 10C charging rate.

The cathode is built from organic polymers while the anode is coated with a highly conductive organic matrix, including embedded metalloid nanoparticles made from tin, silicone, or germanium. To prevent dendrite formation, StoreDot engineers included ionic liquid-based electrolytes with solid electrolyte interphase (SEI).

The cell features real-time voltage management to enable fast charging at higher currents. Further, the thin-coated cell structure supports thermal management during fast charging. 

 

How Does XFC Compare to Other LiBs? 

It is difficult to make clear-cut comparisons with other LiB technologies because of StoreDot's proprietary materials. However, it is worth noting that the FlashBattery uses data science to optimize charging. In contrast, standard Li-ion batteries are designed without a self-guided intelligent charging system. 

 

Nano-sized particles enable ultra-fast Li-ion diffusion

Nano-sized particles enable ultra-fast Li-ion diffusion. Image used courtesy of StoreDot

 

StoreDot claims its FlashBattery has multiple advantages over conventional Li-ion batteries, chiefly its charging rate efficiency (20 times faster). While such speeds may seem to enhance the dangers of fire and combustion, the startup assures that non-flammable and self-healing organic compounds are at the core of this technology. 

 

3D organic polymers

StoreDot says it employs self-healing 3D organic polymers as part of its battery chemistry. Image used courtesy of StoreDot
 

The Open-source Battery Garners Support

In designing this battery, StoreDot aimed to include supercapacitor capabilities. The current silicone prototype has a high energy density of about 240 (Wh/kg) with a target on the horizon of 300Wh/kg once the EV package is optimized. This low self-discharge battery is said to provide long-term energy storage with up to 1,000 charging cycles. 

What's even more interesting about the StoreDot announcement is that the company intends to make this technology open source. The company says its technology is compatible with other Li-ion batteries.

StoreDot has amassed a great deal of support in funding from industry leaders and public agencies. BP's AMU (Advanced Mobility Unit), Nissan, TDK Corporation, Daimler, and Samsung are among the companies that have funded StoreDot's efforts to optimize the ultra-fast charging technology. 

 

StoreDot Heads to Space—And to Market

In partnership with IEC (Israeli Electric Company), the startup gained NASA's approval to explore the battery's material performance in space. The silicone-based battery will be sent to space (more precisely, to the ISS) to undergo hundreds of charging and discharging cycles.

After the testing is over, the battery will return to Earth for the research team to observe and analyze changes in physical and chemical properties. How silicone expands during fast charging is of primary interest to researchers.

 

StoreDot XFC battery will be sent to the International Space Station

StoreDot XFC battery will be sent to the International Space Station 200 miles from Earth to test its chemical and physical properties at zero gravity. Image used courtesy of PR Newswire  

 

Following the Framework Agreement with EVE Energy, StoreDot will venture into mass-market manufacturing by 2024.