Blog Posts
ARPA-E focuses on next-generation energy innovation to create a sustainable energy future. The agency provides R&D support to businesses, universities, and national labs to develop technologies that could fundamentally change the way we get, use, and store energy. Since 2009, ARPA-E has provided approximately $2 billion in support to more than 800 energy technology projects. Last month, we introduced a new series to highlight the transformational technology our project teams are developing across the energy portfolio. Check out these projects turning ideas into reality.
Blog Posts
Every year, convention centers around the world fill with eager attendees looking for a chance to experience firsthand the latest and greatest in the world of automobile innovation. Whether you’re a classic gearhead or technology enthusiast, the auto manufacturers’ annual showcase season is truly a sight to behold. To celebrate car show season, here’s a quick look at some of ARPA-E’s transportation portfolio and a few projects that could one day shape how Americans get around.
Press Releases
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced up to $30 million in funding to develop next-generation, high-energy storage solutions to help accelerate the electrification of the aviation, railroad, and maritime transportation sectors.
Slick Sheet: Project
Project K is developing and commercializing a potassium-ion battery, which operates similarly to lithium-ion batteries. During discharge, potassium ions move from the negative graphite electrode through the electrolyte—a liquid combining organic solvents, conductive salts, and specialty additives—to the positive electrode, which uses a Prussian blue analog. Potassium ions can move through the electrolyte much faster than lithium ions. Additionally, the thermodynamics of the reaction of potassium with graphite allows much higher currents to be applied to the cell.
Slick Sheet: Project
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) will lead a team to assess the risks of next-generation cells from fundamental reaction kinetics to the full battery level. NREL will apply cutting-edge experimental and modeling techniques to build a comprehensive description of the failure mechanisms and risks of cells. The project will establish an understanding of failure mechanisms, reaction pathways, failure modes and effects, revised testing standards, and new capabilities and tools to help de-risk adoption of next-generation cells for commercial applications.
Slick Sheet: Project
South 8 Technologies will develop high-power lithium-ion battery cells with the capacity to charge rapidly using a novel liquefied gas (LiGas) electrolyte technology. The LiGas electrolyte uses non-toxic and non-corrosive gases that are liquefied under moderate pressures and can be contained in standard cylindrical cell cans. The technology has demonstrated excellent performance in conventional graphite/lithium-nickel-manganese-cobalt-oxide cells and offers many opportunities for cost reduction.
Slick Sheet: Project
24M Technologies will develop low-cost and fast-charging sodium metal batteries with good low-temperature performance for EVs. 24M’s cell design will incorporate (1) its ultra-thick SemiSolid cathode made up of advanced cobalt-free, nickel-free sodium cathode active material, (2) an advanced wide-temperature, fastcharging electrolyte developed using machine learning and automated high-throughput screening technology, and (3) a solid electrolyte-based separator to enable a high-energy density anode-free configuration.
Slick Sheet: Project
Ampcera will develop a thermally modulated solid-state battery (TMSSB) incorporating a thermally modulated cell technology (TMCT), developed by EC Power, that was used in conventional lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries to power buses during the 2022 Winter Olympic Games. The TMSSB comprises a high-capacity silicon anode and a high-voltage, nickel-rich lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide cathode enabling an energy density of ≥400 Wh/kg. Combining the TMCT with a high ion conducting solid-state electrolyte will enable rapid charging at ambient conditions.
Slick Sheet: Project
Solid Power will develop a 3D-structured lithium (Li) metal anode and novel sulfur (S) composite cathode to enable high-energy and fast-charging electric vehicle battery cells. Solid Power’s advanced solid-state electrolyte will enable a three-dimensional Li metal anode and S cathode while overcoming the primary challenges for conventional lithium-sulfur chemistry. Solid Power has also developed roll-to-roll processes for Li metal all-solid-state battery (ASSB) cell fabrication, which can be readily deployed to support this project.