Jump to content
Create New...
  • G. David Felt
    G. David Felt

    IONBLOX Pushing the Limits of Solid-State Battery Density

      Air or Land, IONBLOX is pushing the limits of traditional battery storage technology for the next generation of fossil-free mobility.

    Revolution is never easy on any human population and yet the revolution that IONBLOX has for global humanity is truly evolutionary in both to the air and land movement of humans.

    Who is IONBLOX? Founded in 2017, IONBLOX (Formerly known as Zenlabs Energy) is a next-generation energy company transforming the future of mobility be it by land or air. Ionblox’s proprietary pre-lithiated silicon oxide anode distinguishes itself by simultaneously delivering multiple performance attributes – fast charging, high energy, high power, and long life at low cost – pushing the limits of traditional battery storage technology and unlocking the viability of widespread electric transportation for generations to come.

    Fossil-free mobility is the focus and IONBLOX is using a proprietary silicon anode in the battery instead of commonly used anode materials such as graphite. This allows Ionblox to unlock high-energy, high-power, and rapid charging capabilities in electric vehicles and aviation applications. Ionblox’s pre-lithiated silicon oxide anode is essential for high-performance applications requiring both high energy and power for fossil-free mobility.

    “We know fossil-free mobility depends on high-performance batteries. At Ionblox, we have launched the only commercially scalable battery with a silicon dominant anode that can simultaneously provide high energy, high power, 1,000 fast charge cycles, and offers our partners a clear path to low-cost production.” —Sujeet Kumar, Chief Executive Officer of Ionblox

    To better understand what IONBLOX has to offer, we need to understand Energy Density or better yet what is Fuel Energy Density?

    There are many different materials that have stored energy, ranging from food, to diesel, to uranium. These materials are known collectively as fuels, and all of these fuels are used as energy sources for a variety of systems. Fuels that come directly from nature such as crude oil are considered primary fuels; fuels that have to be modified so they can be used such as gasoline are called secondary fuels. The table above shows energy densities for a variety of common fuels.

    Energy density is the amount of energy that can be stored in a given system, substance or region of space. Energy density is measured in energy per volume or per mass. The higher the energy density of a system or material, the greater the amount of energy it has stored.

    A material can release energy in four types of reactions. These reactions are nuclear, chemical, electrochemical and electrical. When calculating the amount of energy in a system most often only useful or extractable energy is measured.

    Energy density is generally expressed in one of two ways and the most common is VED or Volumetric energy density and the second is GED or Gravimetric Energy density.

    • Volumetric energy density - how much energy a system contains in comparison to its volume, typically expressed in watt-hours per liter (Wh/L) or Megajoules per liter (MJ/L).
    • Gravimetric energy density - how much energy a system contains in comparison to its mass, typically expressed in watt-hours per kilogram (Wh/Kg) or Megajoules per kilogram (MJ/kg). Gravimetric energy density can also be referred to as specific energy.

    Having a high energy density does not give information on how quickly this energy can be used. This knowledge is contained in the substance's power density, which describes the rate at which its energy can be put out. 

    Energy sources do not give up their energy in the same way, but assuming they could, how far would each source move an auto? Coal has been used as a base line by researchers to show the amount of energy various sources can move an auto.

    • Wood - 7 meters or 23 ft
    • Coal - 10 meters or 33 ft
    • Crude oil - 18 meters or 59 ft
    • Uranium 235 - 1,625, 000 meters (1,625 km) or 5,331,365 ft or 1,010 miles

    Petroleum products such as Gasoline are used due to the energy density, and this is important to understand in how IONBLOX is planning to revolutionize the air and land mobility of humans.

     Ionblox’s proprietary pre-lithiated silicon oxide anode distinguishes itself by simultaneously delivering multiple performance attributes – fast charging, high energy, high power, and long life at low cost – pushing the limits of traditional battery storage technology and unlocking the viability of widespread electric transportation for generations to come.

    Let's put this into simple terms to understand the benefits of this companies' technology. 

    Pre-lithiated silicon oxide anode-based cells distinguishes itself by the following:

    • Giving the cells 50% more energy density than traditional lithium-ion cells
    • 1,000 charge cycles, retaining 90% of original capacity at the 1,000 Fast DC charge
    • Rapid charges 80% of the battery's capacity in 10 minutes. In a 300-mile battery pack vehicle, this means that you can charge 240 miles in 10 minutes, on par with an equivalent ICE auto
    • Idaho Labs has confirmed this with repeated testing of a 12Ah pouch cell, confirmed energy density of 315 Wh/kg

    IONBLOX believes that this proprietary solid-state lithium-ion battery cell solution in pouch form can deliver both constant rapid charging with high endurance all in a single cell design at a lower cost with longer cycle life.

    IONBLOX has stated that this solution is for both Air and Land. Lets first look at the Air solution.

    Electric Air Transport

    Ionblox knows that eVTOLs have unique operating profiles and hence drastically different battery requirements from EVs —and the long-term success of the eVTOL air mobility revolution depends on the development of high-performance batteries to power it. Ionblox batteries can sustain high power output for a significant length of time without quickly draining the energy stored within. That’s what planes need and why they have partnered with companies such as Lilium Jets to Applied Materials who have invested in Ionblox batteries.

    The unique batteries can be scaled up with low risk and at a competitive cost because they use commercially available materials and proven production processes and equipment, rather than costly, hard-to-scale materials, such as silicon nanotubes and nanowires.

    And to date, Ionblox has launched the only commercially scalable battery that can simultaneously provide high energy, high power, 1,000 fast charge cycles, and a clear path to low-cost production.

    The IONBLOX Air Cells

    Weight as we have seen in the auto industry is just as important an issue in the Airplane industry. Ionblox batteries allow more flight miles or increased loads over competitive products. The following charts above shows the cell characteristics and size of these state-of-the-art cells that offer high energy density with high power for the cells entire performance range.

    Electric Vehicle Transport

    Ionblox had this statement about vehicle transportation: "Electric mobility is one of the most important efforts in the global fight against climate change. However, in order to truly compete with internal combustion engine vehicles, the cost of electric vehicles needs to decrease, the vehicle range needs to increase, and the fast charge capability needs to vastly improve. Today's options are a $30K vehicle that travels 90 miles per charge or a $60K vehicle that travels 300 miles per charge -- neither of which appeals to the general population. And recharging your car should be as fast as filling up a tank of gas."

    In partnership with the United States Advanced Battery Consortium (General Motors, Ford, and Chrysler), Ionblox has developed an ultra high energy density cell, utilizing a silicon based anode. When most traditional cells are charged at high rates on a continuous basis, cycle life suffers tremendously. Range will finally alleviate inconveniences associated with electric vehicles — recharge time can finally last the same amount time as a gas fill-up.

    Ionblox cells have one of the farthest ranges of operating temperatures of any cell currently on the market. For the market to support mass adoption of EVs two things need to happen, first is the official funding and ramp up of Ionblox cell production which is happening now allowing them to produce 50Ah large format pouch cells which will go out to both auto and aircraft manufacturers for evaluation this year and hopefully into mass production in 2024. Second is the global installation of Fast DC chargers.

    Companies globally are ramping up production of these DC or EV Fast Chargers to be installed. Here in the U.S. we have the IRA or Inflation reduction Act that is helping to put level 2 chargers in homes and Fast Chargers nationally on a scale of every 50 miles to make it easy for any EV owner to travel coast to coast.

    Ionblox

    Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 | Internal Revenue Service (irs.gov)

    The National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Formula Program Guidance (dot.gov)


    User Feedback

    Recommended Comments

    There are no comments to display.



    Join the conversation

    You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
    Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

    Guest
    Add a comment...

    ×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

      Only 75 emoji are allowed.

    ×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

    ×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

    ×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.




  • Subscribe to Cheers & Gears

    Cheers and Gears Logo

    Since 2001 we've brought you real content and honest opinions, not AI-generated stuff with no feeling or opinions influenced by the manufacturers.

    Please consider subscribing. Subscriptions can be as little as $1.75 a month, and a paid subscription drops most ads.*
     

    You can view subscription options here.

    *a very limited number of ads contain special coupon deals for our members and will show

  • Posts

    • This is too funny and I HOPE HOPE HOPE Amazon moves forward with this as all the auto's on Amazon for sale will have a TRUMP TARIFF line that shows how much TARIFF tax they will pay. Trump’s ‘Pottery Barn rule’ problem
    • I don’t know if this vehicle, a Toyota Prius Hybrid HEV, represented an upgrade.  It’s just what I was assigned as a mid-size rented vehicle for 3 days.  I had a general idea that this vehicle was recently refreshed and that it looked a lot better.  As I got closer to it and got into it, I was able to get a better look.  The new Prius looks a lot better than I recall a Prius ever looking.  It looks sleek, sporty, and even sort of low-slung.  Interesting exterior features show that they made this a priority.  The front lights and fascia are thin and understated, working well with the more unified exterior.  The rear fascia is definitely Prius’s own and it gives the car some interesting, angled vantage points.  They even incorporated gullwing handles into the sedan’s rear doors and, having once had these in the last rendition of the W-body Buick Regal coupe, I like their look and just plain using them. Its low-slung aspect can present a slight demerit.  The windshield and profile of the front doors is very raked and, as a person of average height, I had to duck a little more than usual to enter the car.  Similarly, the rear backlite borders on almost being horizontal.  This does give the rear storage area a little more usable height. Inside, the front pillars’ rake is mitigated by fixed renditions of what used to be vent windows in older cars.  However, they still seem to block an instinctive sight line compared to more upright vehicles like the current Camry and Corolla.  Inside, the feeling is more cockpit-like.  Similarly, the rear view has the thicker pillars and flatter backlite that require more proactive work – looking over the shoulder attentively and using the amber traffic monitoring warnings in the outside mirrors.  A complementary feature is the chime that assisted lane changes. The Prius has a 4-cylinder engine that seems to spend more time in EV mode than did the hybrid Camry.  That means good fuel economy and, over 3 days, I only added 6 gallons for between 200 and 300 miles of motoring.  In terms of power, handling, and roadability, the Prius gets mixed comments from me.  It does have agility when the pedal is pressed and it moves from eco to power mode.  It also eases upward to higher than anticipated highway speeds if not paying attention!  The transmission is a CVT with a “faux” first gear and it works well.  The Prius has a more noticeable wheezing sound when in reverse gear, which actually advises those inside the car and near it.  However, when pushed, the powertrain gets buzzy, as in noisy.  But at steady speed, any engine noise is not that noticeable.  The vehicle’s handling, smoothness, and quietness vary.  Handling is always nimble and, even at highway speeds, it maneuvers adeptly.  The ride is mostly smooth.  However, noise control could use some improvement.  Some of that can come from the tires they equip the car with, fitted with aluminum wheels that hearken to the ones on Tesla products.  That said, it’s hard to tell if the drone is tire thum or wind.  However, if you prioritize handling among these, I was surprised to see how well the Prius handles … on the highway, on city streets, and even in tight parking spaces, where 3-point attempts are rarely necessary. The cockpit is unusual and very different from yesterday’s Priuses, which I’ve only seen and never driven or been a passenger in one.  I remember how the first model had an oval main instrument pod set up on the cowl in the middle of the dashboard but angled toward the driver.  Today’s Prius has thin and smaller pods, almost set on ledges that seem to staircase down as the cowl approaches the driver.  The main panel looks like a small tablet that is set quite far from the steering wheel.  Depending on how the wheel is titled, there could be some visibility issues seeing all the information.  This required adjusting the wheel and the seating height.  Also, the front seat can be very far from the pedals.  So, while the door is low, taller drivers might like this potential distance.  The infotainment center sits slightly forward of the main instrument screen and is conventionally placed atop the center stack.  Thankfully, it continues with touch operation as opposed to being operated via a remote dial.  Most functions are the ones you’ve known for a while, so setting things up doesn’t take long.  I did struggle a little with the Android Auto, even though the Bluetooth pairing was quick.  Note that, while the Camry has USB-C ports, the Prius does not.  Further down on the center stack, the climate control is easy to work with (not the 3-dial type that so many exports and even domestics have) and the A/C blows colder a little quicker than in the last Camry I drove.  The console deck is about the right height and its overall dimensions, including the box, are generous.  The compactness of the shift lever is sort of fun … think of a small underpowered low-cost EV Corvette! When going into gear, it’s not about moving the selector linearly.  A quick jog to the left and up toward the instrument panel is for reverse while that same quick jog followed by a rearward move puts the vehicle in drive.  It doesn’t take long to get used to this.  Also, the park feature is easy to work with.  Just push in P when stopped and, whether in reserve or drive, the gear selector goes to park.  The only thing is that it is not forgiving when shifting the lever … your foot must be firmly on the brake, so no slipshod maneuvers.  The seating is comfortable and the buckets seem a little high, but this offers support from top to bottom.  The same is true in the rear of the cabin and the headrests do intrude with an already thicker rear sail panel / C-pillar.  Legroom in the rear also seems good and the length of the vehicle allows for that.  Space is sensibly distributed in the 3 volumes from front to back. I always thought a Prius would have something daunting or different about it.  Its look is different in that it lost its first-gen look that looked like an upright Nissan Versa of 2016 … sort of like the runt of the litter that is on the run because it has been kicked in the rump.  This Prius looks planted.  Upon pushing the prominent and easy to use “power” button on the dash, there will be no noise and the dash will literally tell you when it, and you, are “ready” to go. It's a smaller but roomy vehicle where the price isn’t a bargain, but not that steep in today’s terms.  I find there are a few things that I wasn’t crazy about – the height, the main instrument pod sitting in the distance, and not the best noises suppression – but I liked most other things about it.  With so many Priuses going the long haul, this one will probably do the same … and look a lot more presentable while doing it. - - - - - PHOTOS FORTHCOMING  
    • I'm laughing.   There are always reasons why things are "discounted." With me, it's DFW and Austin that give me heartburn.  San Antonio, too, even though I don't know it as well.  I just don't like the look of the DFW area, whether natural or built.  I don't like Austin for being the governmental engine of a big red place next to a massive university with over 50,000 students that is a big blue place.  I'm more of a moderate and don't want extremes in either element.  I also don't like the "way cool" leanings in Austin. Houston has its negatives, but I'd take it for nearby Galveston, and water in general, the extensive pinewoods, the dark red brick homes, an attractive downtown, and for being America's most ethnically diverse city that has always rolled with that spirit.  There is no "you shouldn't be here" factor.  IIR, I've heard of a saying about Madrid that goes, 'When you're in Madrid, you're from Madrid.'  Having lived in various places, I pay attention to those subleties.
    • Very cool to see This Hyundai Ioniq 5 Owner Managed 413,991 Miles In Under Four Years, With One Big Catch
    • Removing tariffs that idiot47 caused so much pain with for getting nothing in return show how stupid a person can be in not understanding true business and how to negotiate.  A real man with Business sense would have put together a package of tariffs to present to China to address specific areas that are an imbalance not just attack everything and see what falls out. As such, incompetence in not understanding the long road map to building greatness shows how foolish the current administration is and now they are going to sign an exception list for the auto industry. Destroy good trading partners just to cause Chaos! Never a sound business strategy. Trump to Sign Order Later Tuesday Easing Auto Tariff Impact
  • Who's Online (See full list)

    • There are no registered users currently online
  • My Clubs

×
×
  • Create New...

Hey there, we noticed you're using an ad-blocker. We're a small site that is supported by ads or subscriptions. We rely on these to pay for server costs and vehicle reviews.  Please consider whitelisting us in your ad-blocker, or if you really like what you see, you can pick up one of our subscriptions for just $1.75 a month or $15 a year. It may not seem like a lot, but it goes a long way to help support real, honest content, that isn't generated by an AI bot.

See you out there.

Drew
Editor-in-Chief

Write what you are looking for and press enter or click the search icon to begin your search