Li-S battery company OXIS Energy receives 2014 European Frost Sullivan Award for Technology Innovation

8 December 2014

Consultancy Frost Sullivan has selected UK-based lithium-sulfur battery developer OXIS Energy to receive the 2014 European Frost Sullivan Award for Technology Innovation. OXIS Energy has developed a lithium-sulfur battery technology that resolves some of the issues in the batteries currently used in military, automotive, and solar energy storage applications. The battery technology currently offers energy density greater than 300Wh/kg, is lightweight and offers enhanced safety chemistry that prevents fires and retains functionality, even after accidents. (Earlier post.)

The significant weight reduction makes the technology promising for soldiers or electric vehicles. For specific military applications, OXIS Energy is confident of achieving a significant weight reduction in excess of 50% in the near future.

<!——>

OXIS Energy presently targets the electric vehicle, defense and solar storage markets, having already developed prototypes boasting technological advantages such as light weight, high gravimetric energy density, and better safety. The patented lithium-sulfur battery chemistry is flexible enough to be tailored to fit other applications, such as marine transportation and advanced nanotechnology-enabled batteries.

Additionally, OXIS Energy’s lithium-sulfur battery has long lifecycles. Its premium product, which will be launched in two to three years, is expected to successfully achieve 2,000 cycles before the capacity reduces to 80%of its beginning-of-life (BoL).

OXIS Energy is the lead partner in a collaboration with Lotus Engineering, Imperial College London and Cranfield University to develop a Lithium-sulfur vehicle battery and Energy System Controller (ESC). The Revolutionary Electric Vehicle Battery (REVB) project began in November 2013, runs until late 2016, and is funded from the Technology Strategy Board’s Integrated Delivery Programme (IDP9).

REVB is targeting improvements in energy density (400 Wh/kg) and cost ($250/kWh) resulting in a compound increase in the performance and safety of next generation electric vehicles. Further, the ESC will utilize 90-95% of the stored energy.

OXIS Energy also recently supplied the third phase of a research program (part of a Defense Science and Technology Laboratory research program) aimed at boosting the performance of its lithium-sulfur cells for Lincad Ltd and the UK Ministry of Defence. The highlight of the new technology is a 60% increase in capacity over the second phase; OXIS Energy is striving to further increase this capacity by 20% with the help of advanced materials.

OXIS Energy is looking to deliver premium products with respect to safety, eco-friendliness, and energy density in a financially viable way. To achieve this, OXIS Energy plans to reduce the price of its battery technology to be on par with lithium-ion through large-scale production.

OXIS Energy collaborates with and supplies battery pack manufacturers that offer complete products. For example, it has collaborated with both Steatite and Hans H. Schive to develop advanced lithium-sulfur batteries that combine its cell technology with their expertise in designing and manufacturing battery packs.

Frost Sullivan expects various stakeholders to seek partnership with OXIS Energy.

OXIS Energy was founded in 2005. During its first phase, the company invested heavily in design and development. Having invested just under $50 million, OXIS is now ready to move into the production of Lithium sulfur cells for a series of applications in both the US and Europe. With 19 families of patents, OXIS has been granted 60 patents with another 55 pending.