US-based Sion Power, a leading player in high-energy, lithium-metal rechargeable batteries demonstrated its patented-Licerion EV technology. Licerion EV is specifically designed for electric vehicle applications, focusing on high energy density, increased cycle life, and fast charging capability.

The company says through optimisation of its protected lithium anode (PLA) and advanced electrolyte formulations, Sion Power performed tests on 1.8 Ah cells, which resulted in 800 full-depth of discharge cycles to 70 percent capacity. Sion Power projects Licerion EV will have 420 Wh/kg and 700 Wh/L when scaled to commercial design, with charge times of 15 minutes to 100 percent state of charge repeatedly demonstrated with 99.7 percent efficiency.

Sion Power is a privately held, vertically integrated organization with more than 180 issued patents. The company’s Licerion EV is an advanced approach to lithium-metal batteries containing twice the energy in the same size and weight battery, as is found in a traditional lithium-ion battery. It believes that Licerion batteries are an enabling technology for growth markets such as electric vehicles, electric vertical take-off and landing aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles and unmanned ground vehicles (UGV), among others.

Dr. Urs Schoop, CTO, Sion Power said: “This achievement demonstrates a remarkable balance between high energy density, faster charge times, and longer cycle life. Though battery experts know fast charging is not ideal for battery longevity, the market demands this as an option. Sion Power has the technology to produce a viable alternative to traditional lithium-ion cells for many applications, including EV.”

Sion Power plans to license Licerion EV technology for use in automobile applications while focusing their internal manufacturing capabilities on specialised markets, including electric vertical take-off and landing vehicles (eVTOL) and unmanned vehicles.