“Tesla Applies for Patent on New Battery Technology for Extended Vehicle Lifespan and Energy Grid Applications”
Tesla Motors Applies for Patent for Innovative Battery Technology
Tesla Motors is making waves in the automotive industry once again with its application for a patent for a new additive-mixing battery technology. The patent application reveals Tesla’s ambitious plans for both automotive and energy grid applications.
Improving Lithium Ion Battery Technology
According to Elektrek, the patent application details Tesla’s innovative solution to improve lithium ion battery technology. The solution comprises electrolytes with additives dissolved inside, which work with nickel manganese cobalt compound (NMC) lithium ion batteries and other types. This patent application is a significant step towards Tesla’s vision of building extremely long-lasting vehicles, with batteries being a crucial component of this vision.
Addressing the Challenges of Electric Vehicles
Batteries pose a significant challenge in electric vehicles due to their high upfront cost and concerns over their lifespan and disposal. Tesla has been making significant progress in improving battery lifespan, with the Tesla Model S serving as a testament to the potential of electric battery technology. The patent application states, “To further progress the adoption of electric vehicles and grid energy storage applications, it is desirable to develop lithium-ion cell chemistries that offer longer lifetimes at high temperatures and high cell voltages, without significantly increasing cost.”
Exploring New Additive Combinations
Tesla’s patent application reveals the company’s experiments with various combinations of two known additives in an attempt to discover high-performance two-additive formulas. The patent focuses on dioxazolones and nitrile sulfites, but the application acknowledges that little is understood about how these and other additives work together in specific types of lithium ion batteries.
Increasing Innovation in the Electric Car Marketplace
Tesla’s patent application serves as a roadmap for experimentation in combining additives to improve battery life. The company has previously released its patents publicly to foster innovation in the electric car marketplace. While it remains to be seen if this mix-and-match formula approach will be patentable, the application itself is a significant statement of Tesla’s commitment to innovation.
Improving Battery Life and Performance
The patent application reveals that some formulas have doubled the number of cycles the battery can take while maintaining the same 95 percent capacity retention. Through extensive experimentation with additive combinations, Tesla aims to improve the lithium ion battery’s performance and longevity. This aligns with CEO Elon Musk’s goal of creating a million-mile battery to match a long-lasting vehicle body and powertrain.
Caroline Delbert is a writer, avid reader, and contributing editor at Pop Mech. She’s also an enthusiast of just about everything. Her favorite topics include nuclear energy, cosmology, math of everyday things, and the philosophy of it all.