![\"One](\"http:\/\/cafe.foundation\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/08\/pnnl-battery-500-528x352.jpg\")
One possible outcome from PNNL in research to obtain 500 Watt-hours per kilogram battery<\/p><\/div>\n
A consortium of researchers led by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) will receive up to $10 million a year over five years to perk up battery performance, with the goal of creating a 500 Watt-hour per kilogram battery pack, about three times that of currently available commercial offerings.\u00a0 The new batteries should be \u201creliable, safe and less expensive,\u201d according to consortium director and PNNL materials scientist Jun Liu. \u00a0Research will come from partners nation-wide,<\/a> including:<\/p>\n Even though the goals and the budget seem similar to those explained by Energy Secretary Steven Chu two years ago, his directive included research on alternative materials<\/a>, such as magnesium and yttrium, combining research and even \u201cmaking new materials.\u201d\u00a0 That project was led by the Argonne Laboratory and was already nearing its second year, while the current program has PNNL leadership and is just beginning.\u00a0 It focuses on lithium-metal batteries, with lithium instead of carbon as the battery\u2019s negative electrode.\u00a0 Cathodes can be made from many materials, and research will attempt to \u201cprevent unwanted side reactions in the whole battery that weaken a battery\u2019s performance.\u201d<\/p>\n As with the earlier study, researchers hope to develop practical solutions for automotive and battery manufacturers which \u201ccan be .quickly and seamlessly implemented by industry.\u201d\u00a0 The consortium will also welcome ideas from outside sources, setting aside 20 percent of its budget for \u201cseedling projects,\u201d allowing findings from the larger \u201cbattery research community.\u201d\u00a0 Outcomes will benefit not only EV development, but could advance stationary grid energy storage.<\/p>\n $10 million per year split among 10 academic and scientific institutions seems almost trivial, especially compared to unit costs for something like the F35, the cheapest model of which is priced at $148 million and the most expensive at $337 million.<\/a>\u00a0 Regardless of the argument for either \u201cinvestment\u201d in producing better batteries or enhancing national security, $50 million spread over five years would probably not buy one F35 engine.<\/p>\n The White House provides this fact sheet <\/a>for the five-year project.<\/p>\n\n