Energy Storage

Current Direct is demonstrating a swappable battery solution for powering inland waterway vessels, with one or more lithium-ion batteries installed in a swappable container, or e-house. Project estimates indicate that the use of swappable batteries connected to an energy-as-a-service platform could reduce European water transport emissions by 482 000 metric tonnes of CO2 equivalents each year.

Legacy DC fast charging stations are time- and capital-intensive to install. Battery-integrated fast charging units require no civil work and can operate without a grid connection (in some cases) or only require connection to the medium voltage grid (much like level 2 chargers). This also introduces a new business model — infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) — which caters to grid constraint urban areas where demand for fast charging exists. Portable, mobile charging units are also offering roadside assistance to stranded EVs. This article explores the commercial activity happening in these two segments and outlines some prominent companies and their products.

A research group, utilizing inexpensive elements, has demonstrated the feasibility of synthesizing electrode materials for lithium-ion batteries. If explored further, this method could reduce industrial reliance on rare metals such as cobalt and nickel.

AFC Energy is pleased to announce that one of its hydrogen fuel cells is being showcased at Air One - the world's first fully operational Urban-Air Port, situated in Coventry, which opened last week. The hydrogen fuel cell being supplied by the Company is being used to charge Air One's fleet of EV service vehicles.

Torqeedo today announced a collaboration with Proton Motor Fuel Cell GmbH to integrate hydrogen fuel cell charging into Torqeedo's industry-leading propulsion systems for electric boats. The two companies will work together on an innovative marine hydrogen hybrid building kit integrating Torqeedo's existing Deep Blue battery-electric drive systems and Proton Motor's advanced fuel cell technology.

Germany's Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action formally announced its "Battery Pass" project and its eleven consortium members, including Circulor, the leading supply chain traceability provider, as the project's technology implementor. The announcement marks the beginning of a three-year, German-funded R&D project to develop core data specifications and technical standards for a "passport", as well as a standardized dataspace to manage batteries that are manufactured or placed into service in the European Union.

The light transporter from Quantron offers a battery-electric cargo solution, ideal for sustainable deliveries over the last mile, in plant traffic and for municipalities.

If you could shrink enough for a fantastic voyage across a lithium battery electrode, you'd see the level of charge at every scale is highly uneven. This is not good for the battery's health. Researchers who recognize the problem worked to view in great detail how the various particles in an electrode interact with lithium during use.

Engineers have designed a heat engine with no moving parts. Their new demonstrations show that it converts heat to electricity with over 40 percent efficiency — a performance better than that of traditional steam turbines.

As the population ages and with the advancements in medical technology, the number of patients using implanted electronic devices, such as artificial pacemakers and defibrillators, is increasing worldwide. Currently, the batteries of body-implanted devices are replaced by an incision surgery, which may lead to health complications. Accordingly, a new charging technique by wireless energy transfer is emerging that can also be used to charge the batteries of underwater devices, such as sensors, that are used for monitoring the conditions of submarine cables.