SAN
LEANDRO, CALIF, May 16th
2024 /CNW/ - Cuberg, a Northvolt subsidiary at the forefront
of new technology development in the battery sector, has today
published a validation report of its first-generation lithium-metal
battery module. The results are a testament to the exceptional
performance of Cuberg's lithium-metal technology and represent the
world's first third-party validation of a lithium-metal battery
module.
Designed to fulfil the operating requirements of a fully
electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, the
lithium-metal module is capable of providing high discharge rates,
at low weight, with consistent performance over hundreds of
missions.
Featuring 60 lithium-metal 20 Ah pouch cells, the battery module
was validated using flight profiles representative of an eVTOL
aircraft. As detailed in the report, the module performed 692
cycles before reaching capacity retention of 90% and demonstrated
specific energy of 284.8 Wh/kg — performance never before
achieved with lithium-metal technology.
The high specific energy of the module translates to increased
flight range which, in turn, enables multiple use cases for
electric aviation. High specific energy would enable operators to
choose between longer cruise times or heavier payloads — both of
which expand the opportunities for eVTOL businesses cases.
Shauna McIntyre, CEO Cuberg,
comments: "Our mission is to push the boundaries of what's possible
with battery technology. The validation of our first lithium-metal
module marks a milestone in our journey towards commercial
lithium-metal battery solutions. With a focus on performance,
safety and reliability, we're committed to accelerating the
adoption of electrification across new market segments and
accelerating the transition to a cleaner future."
The first generation of Cuberg's lithium-metal battery module
was designed, developed and produced at Cuberg facilities in the
San Francisco Bay Area,
California. Validation work was
conducted by TÜV SÜD.
The report is available online :
https://www.datocms-assets.com/115911/1715703379-cuberg_module_validation-2405.pdf.
Implications beyond
aviation
While Cuberg has gained significant attention for its
development of battery solutions to enable the aviation industry,
the company's ambitions include bringing lithium-metal technology
to other markets.
Blending lightweight design with both high discharge rates and
high energy density, Cuberg lithium-metal battery technology is
well-suited for applications requiring high-performance, including
ones in the automotive sector. As electric vehicles continue to
gain traction, Cuberg's technology could play a crucial role in
powering the next generation of high-performance electric cars,
offering enhanced power and range.
To address this diverse customer base, Cuberg deploys a flexible
business model of both battery cell and module development and
delivery. As a result of its industry-leading system expertise,
Cuberg serves as a critical partner to vehicle producers in their
system-level development while offering its customers the freedom
to customize Cuberg cell technology to their system-level
requirements.
In securing the world's first third-party validation of
lithium-metal battery module, Northvolt and Cuberg cement their
position as a leader in battery technology at both the cell and
module levels. Module validation not only attests to the
performance of lithium-metal technology but also marks a
significant step forward in the industrialization of the
technology.
About Northvolt
Northvolt was founded in 2016 in Stockholm, Sweden. Pioneering a sustainable
model for battery manufacturing, the company is building production
capacity to meet $55 billion in
orders from key customers, including BMW, Fluence, Scania, Volvo
Cars and the Volkswagen Group. Northvolt currently employs around
5,000 people, delivering batteries from its first Northvolt Ett
gigafactory in Skellefteå, Sweden,
and from its Northvolt Labs R&D and industrialization campus in
Västerås, Sweden. The company also
has ongoing projects and joint ventures in Germany, Norway, Poland, Portugal, the USA and Canada.
SOURCE Northvolt