Bosch has been showing off its current solid-state, lithium-ion battery concept at the Frankfurt Motor Show, according to recent reports, claiming that the new solid-state battery cells could double energy density, while actually lowering costs, not increasing them. The company claims that these electric vehicle (EV) batteries could be ready for production in only 5 years, or less.
Part of the claim of production-readiness in under 5 years is due the company’s acquisition of the startup Seeo, it claims, as well as internal developments.
If the claims have truth to them, then that would mean that an EV with a 100 or so miles of range could see that doubled to 200 miles of range, all while actually lowering battery costs, all within 5 years — an impressive accomplishment, if it pans out.
The chairman of the board of management of Robert Bosch GmbH, Dr Volkmar Denner, commented: “Bosch is using its knowledge and considerable financial resources to achieve a breakthrough for electromobility. Solid-state cells could be a breakthrough technology. Disruptive start-up technology is meeting the broad systems knowledge and financial resources of a multinational company.”
The company has previously predicted that around 15% of all new cars will be, at the very least, a hybrid, if not an fully electric, by the year 2025 — so, unsurprisingly, the company seems to be trying to position itself to take advantage of that.
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To this end, in 2014 Bosch joined GS Yuasa and Mitsubishi Corporation in establishing the joint venture Lithium Energy and Power GmbH & Co KG, the objective of which is to develop a more powerful generation of lithium-ion batteries.
Bosch said that Seeo’s technology complements the work done thus far with Bosch’s Japanese partners. The result will be a combination of start-up technology with Bosch’s systems and technology know-how, GS Yuasa’s cell competence, and Mitsubishi Corporation’s broad industrial base. Due to its acquisition of Seeo Inc, Bosch now possesses the first sample cells which have the potential to meet the high standards of the automotive industry where durability and safety are concerned.
Until these claims become a market reality, though, they should all be taken with a grain is salt. Interesting nonetheless.