Military
Department of Energy Invests in Next-Generation Batteries With Four Times Current Capacity
The Department of Energy is funding six teams to develop batteries capable of delivering four times the energy density of current technology. The teams have two years to produce manufacturable prototypes that could transform applications from military equipment to electric vehicles and grid storage.
Key Takeaways
- Six research teams have two years to produce manufacturable prototypes with four times current lithium-ion energy density
- The target of roughly 1,000 Wh/kg would transform military equipment, electric vehicles, aviation, and grid storage
- Candidate technologies include lithium-sulfur, solid-state, lithium-air, and advanced silicon anode batteries
- The DOE emphasis on manufacturability aims to avoid breakthroughs that cannot scale beyond the laboratory
- The initiative reflects a global race for next-generation battery technology with national security implications
DE
DT Editorial AI··via defenseone.com