UK's Oxis Energy leads Li-Sulphur battery research for auto applications

England-based Oxis Energy, which has been developing a next-generation battery, has announced that it will lead the Lithium Sulfur Future Automotive Battery (LiSFAB) project, valued at 7 million pounds (Rs 69 crore), funded by Innovate UK, which aims to transform electric vehicle technology for commercial applications.

According to Oxis Energy, the global lithium battery market is estimated to be around $200 billion (Rs 1,263,400 crore), out of which it is targeting the EV market that is estimated to be around $22 billion annually (Rs 138,974 crore) and $3 billion defence market (Rs 18,951 crore).

It aims to develop a next-generation cell and module that is suitable for large EVs such as trucks and buses, which it says will deliver a 400 Wh/kg lithium-sulphur cell that will have the significantly improved power and cycle life required by large automotive applications. It states this cell would allow buses and trucks to carry considerably more payload and will cost less because of the abundant cell construction materials, and it will improve the state of charge and state of health, along with the manufacturing aspect.

The project will focus in four areas where Oxis plans to play a key role – cell Performance, characterisation, manufacturability and module development.

For cell performance, it will work with University College London and William Blythe to utilise new materials to improve performance and characterise electrodes and cells using X-ray tomography and other techniques to accelerate development. This aspect of the work will build on past projects that increased cell specific energy (Wh/kg), with further improvements being made to cycle life, power and cell design to meet the performance and safety needs of EVs.

For cell characterisation cells it will conduct extensive testing’s to inform development, which includes rigorous safety tests, rapid test protocols/formation studies, degradation/abuse analysis that will be carried out.

Oxis will work with Ceetak for developing crucial pouch cell sealing technology required to make a robust automotive cell whilst BPE will lead the design of a pilot facility for the cells that are developed on this project. It will again team up with University College London to develop a novel, non-invasive X-Ray quality control process for cells.

Furthermore, it will collaborate with Cranfield University, for developing the module. Oxis will build on the control algorithms developed on the Revolutionary Electric Vehicle Battery project in order to better estimate SoC and SoH and create intelligent charging algorithms to improve lifetime. Along with Williams Advanced Engineering it will also investigate module construction techniques and cell matching in order to establish a final module.

Commenting on the project, Chris Flowers, project manager LiSFAB, Oxis, said, "This project is of major importance to the UK's development of next generation cells and modules for large electric vehicles. The Li-S technology that we are developing in this project will also be applicable to Oxis’s other key markets such as  aerospace (including space) and energy storage. The team has a unique skillset covering all of our key development areas. This combined with our motivation will help drive us forward and reach our destination of improved cycle life for large electric vehicles."

Huw Hampson-Jones, CEO, Oxis Energy, said: "The LiSFAB project is a significant step forward for our Lithium Sulfur chemistry and technology. Achieving the programme's set goals signifies that we can replace the use of fossilised fuel with rechargeable batteries that are benign to the environment. When Europe is spending 1 billion euros (Rs 7,644 crore) a day on oil, Oxis Li-S batteries make a big impact towards reducing pollution."