Lifeboat Foundation

A prototype solid-state battery, named the Goliath P1 and developed by UK startup Ilika, has made waves in the electric vehicle (EV) industry due to its significant benefits and implications. The battery achieved a major breakthrough by passing an important safety test known as the nail penetration test.

This test simulates a catastrophic incident that often leads to dangerous thermal runaway—a condition in which traditional lithium-ion batteries, which use liquid electrolytes, can explode or catch fire.

A team led by scientists at the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory identified and successfully demonstrated a new method to process a plant-based material called nanocellulose that reduced energy needs by a whopping 21%. The approach was discovered using molecular simulations run on the lab’s supercomputers, followed by pilot testing and analysis.

The method, leveraging a solvent of sodium hydroxide and urea in water, can significantly lower the production cost of nanocellulosic fiber — a strong, lightweight biomaterial ideal as a composite for 3D-printing structures such as sustainable housing and vehicle assemblies. The findings support the development of a circular bioeconomy in which renewable, biodegradable materials replace petroleum-based resources, decarbonizing the economy and reducing waste.

Colleagues at ORNL, the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and the University of Maine’s Process Development Center collaborated on the project that targets a more efficient method of producing a highly desirable material. Nanocellulose is a form of the natural polymer cellulose found in plant cell walls that is up to eight times stronger than steel.

Fuel cells are energy-conversion solutions that generate electricity via electrochemical reactions without combustion, thus not contributing to the pollution of air on Earth. These cells could power various technologies, ranging from electric vehicles to portable chargers and industrial machines.

Despite their advantages, many fuel cell designs introduced to date rely on expensive materials and precious metal catalysts, which limits their widespread adoption. Anion-exchange-membrane fuel cells (AEMFCs) could help to tackle these challenges, as they are based on Earth-abundant, low-cost catalysts and could thus be more affordable.

In recent years, many research groups worldwide have been designing and testing new AEMFCs. While some existing devices achieved promising results, most of the non-precious metals serving as catalysts were found to be prone to self-oxidation, which causes the irreversible failure of the cells.

The material displays characteristics across a wide temperature range aiding versatile applications:

There is always a trade-off when balancing strength and flexibility. One is achieved at the cost of the other. While a flexible, shape-shifting aircraft can deliver benefits for higher energy efficiency and faster transportation, these cannot be achieved by risking the safety of the passengers using a material that lacks proper strength.

Continue reading “New titanium-nickel alloy could enable shape-shifting aircraft” »

A French startup is bringing sails back to the shipping industry.

Dr. Wencai Zhang: “Our goal is to contribute to the supply chain of these critical materials while also making a positive environmental impact. We specifically aim to reduce the environmental consequences that can be associated with produced water.”

How can lithium, one of the most demanded minerals for clean energy products like electric vehicles, be harvested without harming the environment? This is | Technology.

It reaffirms Tesla’s goal to launch the company’s self-driving technology in two new markets early next year.

Researchers use AI and models to improve EV battery safety:

One of the electric vehicles’ most critical safety concerns is keeping their batteries cool, as temperature spikes can lead to dangerous consequences.

New research led by a University of Arizona doctoral student proposes a way to predict and prevent temperature spikes in the lithium-ion batteries commonly used to power such vehicles.

Continue reading “New machine learning model developed to prevent EV battery fires” »

US company Radian Aerospace is attempting to build a “single stage to orbit” vehicle, launched from a sled. But can it be done?