Bosch, the German electronics giant, is making a strong showing at the Frankfurt Motor Show (IAA), and showing off its solid-state Li-ion battery technology. It recently acquired Seeo, Inc., an American startup that has been developing such a battery for several years, and will add Seeo’s research to its own expertise and exclusive patents.
Encouragingly, the company says it will be able to double the energy density of Li-ion batteries while cutting prices by half. Perhaps discouragingly, Bosch says this will take until 2020 to bring to production.
Bosch’s solid-state cell compared graphically with conventional Lithium-ion cell
Green Car Congress quotes Dr. Volkmar Denner, chairman of the board of management for Robert Bosch GmbH, claiming a breakthrough. “Bosch is using its knowledge and considerable financial resources to achieve a breakthrough for electromobility. Solid-state cells could be a breakthrough technology. Disruptive start-up technology is meeting the broad systems knowledge and financial resources of a multinational company.”
Coupling the acquisition with its 30 production projects “related to electromobility,” Bosch has been working with GS Yuasa and Mitsubishi Corporation in a joint venture – Lithium Energy and Power GmbH & Co., KG, dedicated to developing “a more powerful generation of lithium-ion batteries.” Bosch sees Seeo’s technology as complementary to “Bosch’s systems and technology know-how, GS Yuasa’s cell competence, and Mitsubishi Corporation’s broad industrial base.”
Seeo provides the first sample cells which Bosch thinks meet automotive industry standards for durability and safety. Dr. Rolf Bulander, Chairman of the Bosch Business Sector Mobility Solutions, claims, “Availability of the [EV] technology is not an issue, what is currently the roadblock to electrification is cost of the battery and it has to be solved. And when it is, electrification will take off.” He sees doubling the range and cutting costs in half as crucial, obviously looking at Bosch’s projections that globally there will be as many as eight million EVs on the road by 2025, along with another eight million PHEVs (plug-in hybrid vehicles), five million hybrids and 11 million mild hybrids. The latter is an area Bosch in which Bosch is particularly interested, having created a 48-Volt mild hybrid system of its own.
Lux’s analysis, admittedly opinionated, for solid-state battery developers. Seeo, and thus Bosch’s acquisition, get a “wait and see” rating
Lux Research Senior Analyst, Cosmin Laslau, reports that Seeo has been trying to “pivot from lower-energy LFP (lithium iron phosphate) cathodes towards higher-energy NCA (nickel cobalt aluminum) cathodes to keep ahead of the competition. It was also looking to set up joint ventures to help it scale up production of cells capable of 350 Wh/kg, a crucial step in proving its new technology.”
Lux, a group specializing in research and consulting on emerging technologies, indicates there are other solid-state players in the game, and gives its opinions on whether they are long-shots or sure things – at least as much as market foibles allow. Imprint Energy, Ilika, and ProLogium on the start-up front, and Hydro-Quebec’s IREQ arm on the industrial laboratory front, represent what Lux thinks are better bets for investors. Others, some of which we’ve reported on in this blog, included Infinite Power Solutions, recently acquired by Apple; Sakti 3 and SolidEnergy, invested in by GM; and Quantumscape and Oxis Energy, both involved with VW.
Lux thinks there might be “a likely buying spree of next-generation battery technology over the coming years,” leading to an “unstoppable flow of plug-in and other electric vehicles.
Laslau sees the limits of Li-ion causing the automakers to look at the new, next-best thing. “As these OEMs and their suppliers look to appeal to more buyers, the pressure for longer driving ranges for less money will push Li-ion to the breaking point, necessitating next-generation technology. For now, solid-state batteries are the best positioned to take that crown, but other families like lithium-sulfur, high-voltage cathodes, and alternative ions are worth watching, too.”
He cautions though, “Despite the growing hype around solid-state batteries, do not expect Li-ion to lose its crown in the next decade. (Lux’s bolding) It will be surpassed eventually, and those that prepare now by securing key IP and leading researchers, will be the best positioned to prevail in the future of transportation drivetrains.”