“Tesla Submits New Patent for Improved Battery Cell Chemistry to Enhance Performance and Reduce Costs”
Tesla Files New Patent for Enhanced Battery Cell Chemistry
Tesla, the leading electric vehicle manufacturer, has submitted a new patent for an improved battery cell chemistry. The patent, titled “Dioxazolones and nitrile sulfites as electrolyte additives for lithium-ion batteries,” aims to enhance the performance and lifespan of batteries while reducing costs.
Details of the New Patent
The new patent is the brainchild of Jeff Dahn and his Canadian laboratory, which conducts battery research for Tesla. The patent specification, submitted by Tesla Motors Canada, reveals that the new battery systems operate with “less active electrolyte additives.” These can be utilized in various energy storage applications, such as vehicle and grid storage.
The patent disclosure includes “additive electrolyte systems that enhance the performance and life of lithium-ion batteries while reducing the cost of other systems based on more or different additives.” However, the exact savings potential is not quantified, as the development is still ongoing.
Previous Developments and the Current Patent
The new patent application builds on a previous development that Tesla filed for patent in September. The earlier patent claimed that the new cells could achieve 4,000 cycles at 40 degrees Celsius using NMC chemistry and an advanced electrolyte. These cells could last for 1.6 million kilometres in an electric car or 20 years in stationary storage, according to Tesla.
The current patent document states that the LiIon NMC cells were manufactured with “a recently developed electrolyte additive MDO and two new additives PDO and BS”. The improved systems include a non-aqueous electrolyte comprising one or more lithium salts, one or more non-aqueous solvents, and an additive or additive mixture.
Future Developments and Rumours
Future development will focus on further optimizing the composition of the additives, for instance, by adjusting the ratio of primary and secondary additives or by introducing ternary mixtures.
If Tesla decides to use the patent-pending technologies to make its own battery cells ready for series production, the company would likely rely on NMC cells for its potential own battery cell production. So far, it has mainly used NCA cells. There are rumours that NMC cells are only used in the MIC Model 3, the model produced in China.
Update on Tesla’s Battery Cell Patent
After the Tesla patent for an improved battery cell with NMC chemistry, another patent for NCA chemistry is now following. A source familiar with the matter explained that the new electrodes would probably enable Tesla to achieve an energy density similar or even better than that of NMC cells. The patent application lists Dahn himself and Tesla battery engineers Hongyang Li and Jing Li, who were trained by him, as the inventors.
Conclusion
Tesla’s new patent for improved battery cell chemistry is a significant step towards enhancing the performance and lifespan of batteries while reducing costs. This development is a testament to Tesla’s commitment to innovation and sustainability in the electric vehicle industry. The patent is expected to have a significant impact on the future of electric vehicles and energy storage applications.