batteries

United Arab Emirates lead-acid battery maker Eternity Technologies has opened its first plant in the US to make batteries for the forklift market.

The plant in Sherman, Texas was opened in October to manufacture its full range of BCI 2 volt low maintenance and enhanced capacity batteries for the US, Mexican and Canadian markets.

The root cause of fires that pushed General Motors to recall 68,667 Chevrolet Bolt electric vehicles is unknown but “could be” related to overcharging the high voltage lithium-ion batteries produced in South Korea by LG Chem. 

Concerns the batteries could catch fire when fully charged has led the US federal vehicle safety agency National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to recommend charging up to 90% capacity until a software update is completed.

Theoretical scientists at Stanford University have identified a new class of materials that could lead to the development of more efficient solid-state lithium-ion batteries.

The materials—lithium, boron and sulfur— were identified after the team used a computer algorithm to screen more than 12,000 lithium-containing compounds in a materials database. 

UK-based battery maker AMTE (formerly AGM Batteries) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with infrastructure firm InfraNomics with the goal of making lithium batteries in Western Australia.

The MoU, signed on 15 September, will evaluate the technical and commercial viability of lithium-ion cell manufacturing in the country focused on eservices the energy storage sector.

AMTE made headlines early this year when it signed a MoU with Britishvolt, to build the UK’s first lithium-ion battery cell gigafactories servicing the automotive and energy storage markets.

Vehicle OEM Hyundai Motor Group and lithium-ion battery maker SK Innovation will partner to create a battery value chain and strengthen eco-friendliness of electric vehicle batteries.

The South Korean firms have agreed to cooperate in the development of a sustainable ecosystem for electric vehicle (EV) batteries and create acycle of battery usage known as the Battery as a Service (BaaS), which includes lease or rental service.