Samsung SDI unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show this week a new battery cell prototype, which the company claims has the “world’s top high energy density” and could allow electric vehicles to travel 373 miles (600 km) on a single charge.
As it is often the case with battery “breakthroughs”, I wouldn’t get too excited because Samsung says the commercial production of this high energy density battery cell is only expected to start in 2020.
Considering the prototype’s energy density represents a 20 to 30 percent improvement over the current high density cells and that energy density in general improves by 5 to 8 percent every year, Samsung’s new prototype is at best in line with incremental improvements in the industry.
The company says that it also lowered the height of the cells by 20 to 30 percent compared to current rectangular battery cells aimed at the automotive market. The system should make it easier for automakers to design smaller battery packs that would more easily fit on an EV platform.
Samsung SDI is considered a “leading” automotive battery supplier, standing only behind LG Chem and Panasonic. Here’s the company’s roadmap for future battery technologies:
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That milage number is exactly the one proposed for the VW Bull-e concept. I guess that means its production will come no sooner than 2020 then.
Just like their marketing
Well, the most important is the $/kWh (cost of the car) and Wh/l (remaining usable space in the car). Wh/kg (weight of the car) is also important, but not so much because it really dosn’t matter much if the car weights 4000lbs or 4500lbs. In higher speeds drag coef. has higher importance than weight.
Considering Panasonic cells supplied to Tesla have already ~260Wh/kg I don’t think that Tesla would be much interested… But maybe other carmakers could use it.