Lithium-sulfur company Oxis Energy continues to go from strength to strength with news this week its prototype cells have reached 471Wh/kg.
The company has been making incremental advances with the technology since announcing it had reached its 400Wh/kg milestone in 2016.
The UK-based company aims to increase the energy density of its solid-state lithium-sulfur technology to 500Wh/kg in the next 12 months.
Its research scientists believe they can extend both gravimetric and volumetric energy density to 600Wh/kg and in excess of 800Wh/L with an extended life cycle. Oxis is at Technical Readiness Level (TRL) 2, and is extending research to reach TRL 4 by 2021.
Huw Hampson-Jones (pictured), CEO Oxis Energy, said the company continued to focus on the market sectors where weight reduction, elimination of distance anxiety and safety were of paramount importance. Oxis is looking toward e-motive applications including: electric buses, electric trucks, marine vessels and aircraft.
He said: “The culture of early adoption of new technology, which characterises the ‘can do’ attitude of US business, is driving the implementation of Oxis lithium-sulfur cell and battery systems across multiple markets.”
The Oxford company is shipping 400Wh/kg cells to its clients in Europe, the US and Japan— with Hampson-Jones believing the later two are emerging as key entrants in the use of lithium-sulfur cells and battery systems.
In December, Oxis signed a trading partnership with Sanyo Trading Company, which will market its technology in Japan.
The company has also achieved Technology Readiness Level 9 in flight trials with Bye Aerospace in the US.
Oxis plans to double cell production capacity in the UK this year. To this end it’s establishing an electrolyte and cathode active material manufacturing facility in Wales. The plant will supply its Oxis Energy Brazil plant.