MEI² Receives Two New Innovative Vehicle Technology Awards

The Department of Energy’s Vehicle Technology Office (DOE-VTO) awarded $59M to 43 projects for new and innovative advanced vehicle technology research in advanced battery and electric drive systems, co-optimized engine and fuel technologies, and alternative fuels and new energy efficient mobility system. Researchers at the University of Maryland (UMD) and Maryland Energy Innovation Institute (MEI²) received two of these awards in the advanced battery category. These projects will accelerate the development of lithium-metal solid state batteries. UMD received more funding than any other university and is the only one to receive multiple awards in this category. It is also one of only two universities to receive two awards overall in all categories.

Dr. Eric Wachsman, MEI² Director and William L. Crentz Centennial Chair in Energy Research, was awarded $1M for his work on “Low Impedance Cathode/Electrolyte Interfaces for High Energy Density Solid-State Batteries”. The project will research, develop, and test lithium metal-based batteries that implement solid lithium-ion conductors equipped with nickel manganese cobalt cathodes integrated into the lithium-metal tri-layer architecture. Performance targets for the batteries include a 15-year calendar life, cycle life of 1,000 with less than 20% performance degradation, and a specific energy greater than 350 Wh/kg.

Dr. Chunsheng Wang, Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering and Robert Franklin and Frances Riggs Wright Distinguished Chair, also received $1M in funding for his research in “Lithium Dendrite-Free Solid Electrolytes for High Energy Lithium Batteries”. His work will focus on optimizing the next generation, high-energy lithium ion batteries.

The DOE-VTO goal is to reduce the cost, volume and weight of batteries while improving the vehicle battery performance (power, energy, durability). Advancing these energy storage technologies will allow more commercially driven electric vehicles to enter the market.

Published August 20, 2019