California, US-based lithium-ion battery firm Enevate has won $30 million of funding just as it announced a breakthrough in the charge rate of its HD-Energy batteries.
Four companies—Infinite Potential Technologies, Tsing Capital, Mission Ventures and Presidio Ventures—have handed over the cash to back Enevate as it develops its products for high-volume mass production.
Enevate says its HD Energy batteries are capable of a 90% charge within 15 minutes, achieved with new materials and cell designs with higher volumetric and gravimetric energy density.
The technology uses silicon-dominant composite anodes for rechargeable Li-ion polymer batteries, which increases energy density by 25-50% over conventional graphite anode cells.
“The charge rate of Enevate batteries can be 5-10 times faster than conventional batteries due to multiple reasons, including faster kinetics of silicon,” said Dr Benjamin Park, founder and CTO of Enevate.
“Enevate’s unique silicon Li-ion batteries deliver both ultrafast charging and high energy density at the same time. The batteries are resistant to lithium plating during charging, which allows for cycle life to be maintained even with high charge rates.”
For example, a 3000 mAh Enevate battery using a 12 Amp charge (4C rate) achieves 90% capacity in 15 minutes with no degradation in energy or capacity, Park said.
Using a 6 Amp charge (2C rate), the same 3000mAh Enevate battery charges to 90% in 25 minutes.