The first gigafactory for the production of lithium-sulfur batteries is already under construction. The goal is to change electric vehicles forever

We have a problem with electric vehicle batteries. Mainly with lithium-ion batteries, but it is in electric vehicles that we are faced with the limitations of the capacity and charging speed of this technology. In the search for a new type of battery, solid-state batteries are quickly gaining their place in both cars and other devices. They will allow you to cover distances of up to 1000 kilometers, and most companies are considering the possibility of their mass production.

However, among the alternatives to conventional lithium batteries, we came across a very interesting duo: lithium and sulfur. These batteries have a similar composition to lithium-ion batteries, but use sulfur as the cathode (rather than elements such as nickel, manganese or cobalt). Sulfur is easy to obtainwidespread in the earth’s crust and, above all, cheaper than other catalytic elements.

In addition, lithium and sulfur batteries have higher densities, and their main problem is that the charging capacity leaves much to be desired: the first prototypes are designed for only 50 charge cycles. Now, in recent years, the industry has focused on solving this weak point, and there are already those who believe that it is time to begin mass production of these lithium and sulfur batteries.

And Lyten just announced plans to build the world’s first gigafactory to produce lithium-sulfur batteries in industrial quantities.

Lithium Sulfur Gigafactory Lyten

Liten is launch founded in 2015 and to date has attracted more than 400 million investments. There are important companies that are putting a lot of money into this, but the most notable is Stellantis. His specialty is the use of supermaterials.which is very important in the research of materials such as three-dimensional graphene, as well as in the development of the aforementioned lithium and sulfur batteries.

Earlier this year, Chrysler showed off its impressive Halcyon, an electric vehicle with unlimited range potential thanks to wireless charging technology on adapted roads. Your battery? Lyten’s 800V lithium-sulfur battery uses no nickel, cobalt or manganese and the company notes has a 60% lower carbon footprint than the best lithium-ion batteries available today. Additionally, it has twice the energy density and weighs half as much as NMC lithium-ion batteries.

As we speak, it appears the industry wants to demonstrate that we are ready to begin mass production of this type of battery, and the world’s first gigafactory focused on creating lithium-sulfur batteries will be located in Nevada. The Lyten plant will be located near Reno. ability to produce up to 10 GWh of batteries per year on a large scalethe first stage of which will go into operation in 2027. It will employ more than 1,000 people and cover an area of ​​116,128 square meters.

Its activities include the production of lithium metal cathode and anode active materials. They will also assemble lithium-sulfur battery cells in cylindrical and pouch formats. Dan Cook, co-founder of Lyten, comments that this is an achievement and “the latest milestone in Lyten’s nine-year history.” with local materials available in abundance and 100% American made.

The latter is interesting not only as a blow to the chest from the Americans. Lyten’s investors include the European Investment Fund. -European Investment Fund- and, given that there is plenty of sulfur in Europe, opens the door for Lyten to open factories on the old continent. As we have already said, other elements that are used as cathodes in conventional lithium-ion batteries are few in number and, above all, difficult to extract, but this is not the case with sulfur.

Following Lyten’s announcement, it’s likely that other companies will begin to make moves as it’s a bold move that the company is investing more than $1 billion in in hopes of positioning itself as a bet on electric batteries in the near future. cars.

Image | Liten

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