Behold the era of the ‘super battery’
Asia TimesChina’s BAK and US new energy firm Cadenza to construct a battery production line in the Shenzhen industrial park
During the Second World War, the British government called upon domestic battery makers to create a battery that will last much longer, for use in various industries crucial to the war effort.
Whether it was for an aircraft, or a spy operating a communication device on the continent, or a tank in the African desert, or whatever.
The British battery makers said, “Sorry, technically this is not possible” — of course, they were protecting their industry. They want people to buy more batteries. This was their business.
Cadenza Innovation was set up by Li-ion battery experts in 2012. The Connecticut-based firm owns over 125 patents and has become a leader in making low-cost, high-safety and high-energy-density lithium-ion batteries. Credit: Charged EVs.
And so they said, “Fine, we will nationalize your industry, take it over, and do it ourselves.”
And guess what … the industry responded, rather quickly, with better quality, longer lasting batteries.
The lesson, of course, is that it can be done.
Fast forward to today, and China’s BAK Battery and US new energy innovative firm Cadenza Innovation have penned an agreement after in-depth exchanges to jointly build a super battery production line in BAK Battery’s Shenzhen industrial park, the Securities Times reported.
The production line will be complete in the first half, and batteries it makes will be sold and used in energy storage systems, industrial vehicles and commercial buses in the US, Australia and Europe, per the plan.
Super battery samples have passed stringent fire safety tests and verification in the US and tests by many clients, per the report, which revealed no further details.
Cadenza Innovation was set up by Li-ion battery experts in 2012. The Connecticut-based firm owns over 125 patents and has become a leader in making low-cost, high-safety and high-energy-density lithium-ion batteries.
Lithium is the lightest of all metals, but unstable when used in batteries, where its ion form is favored. The energy density of lithium-ion is twice that of conventional nickel-cadmium chemistry batteries. Its load characteristics are quite good and similar to nickel-cadmium in discharge. High cell voltage enables single-cell battery pack designs. Most smartphones use only a single cell.
Lithium-ion is low maintenance, has no memory and no scheduled cycling is required to extend battery life. Self-discharge is also less than half that of nickel-cadmium, making lithium-ion suitable for modern fuel uses. Lithium-ion cells also inflict little environmental damage when disposed of.