Lithium-sulphur batteries have the potential to deliver more than twice the energy density of lithium-ion and represent an alternative, non-nickel-manganese-cobalt cathode solution.
25 May 2023 | 2710 Views | By Autocar Professional Bureau
Stellantis and Lyten have announced today that Stellantis Ventures, the corporate venture fund of Stellantis, has invested in Lyten to accelerate the commercialisation of Lyten 3D graphene applications for the mobility industry, including the LytCell lithium-sulphur EV battery, lightweighting composites, and novel on-board sensing.
Lyten, a Silicon Valley-based pioneer ...
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Stellantis and Lyten have announced today that Stellantis Ventures, the corporate venture fund of Stellantis, has invested in Lyten to accelerate the commercialisation of Lyten 3D graphene applications for the mobility industry, including the LytCell lithium-sulphur EV battery, lightweighting composites, and novel on-board sensing.
Lyten, a Silicon Valley-based pioneer of three-dimensional (3D) graphene, will leverage the unique tunability of the material to enable enhanced vehicle performance and customer experience while decarbonising the transportation sector.
Lyten’s tunable materials platform has demonstrated significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and will advance the transition to sustainable mobility.
Energy-dense batteries, freedom from supply chain disruptions
Unlike traditional lithium-ion batteries, Lyten’s lithium-sulphur batteries do not use nickel, cobalt, or manganese, resulting in an estimated 60% lower carbon footprint than today’s best-in-class batteries and a pathway to achieve the lowest emissions EV battery on the global market.
Raw materials for Lithium-Sulfur batteries have the potential to be sourced and produced locally, in North America or Europe, enhancing regional supply sovereignty. This technology will meet the needs of industries seeking lightweight and energy-dense batteries that are free from supply chain disruptions.
“We are delighted that Stellantis Ventures, as the venture investment arm of a global automotive innovator, has demonstrated a strong belief in our company and our Lyten 3D Graphene decarbonising supermaterials,” said Dan Cook, president and CEO of Lyten.
“Among the automotive product innovations being transformed by Lyten 3D Graphene are lithium-sulphur batteries with the potential to deliver more than twice the energy density of lithium-ion, payload-improving lightweighted vehicle composites, and new modes of sensing that do not require chips, batteries or wires. We are committed to advancing each of these applications to Stellantis and the automotive market.”
Cook continued: “Unlike two-dimensional forms of graphene, the production of our tunable Lyten 3D graphene has been independently verified to be carbon-neutral at scale. We are converting greenhouse gases into a new class of high-performance, high-value carbon materials and are incorporating these tuned materials into applications that will decarbonize the hardest to abate sectors on the planet.”
“Having recently visited Lyten together with our CTO Ned Curic and our head of Stellantis Ventures, Adam Bazih, we walked away impressed by the potential of this technology to help drive clean, safe and affordable mobility,” said Carlos Tavares, Stellantis CEO. “Lyten’s materials platform is a key investment for Stellantis Ventures, in line with our Dare Forward 2030 goal to accelerate deployment of innovative, customer-centric technologies. Specifically, Lyten’s Lithium-Sulfur battery has the potential to be a key ingredient in enabling mass-market EV adoption globally, and their material technology is equally well positioned to help reduce vehicle weight, which is all necessary for our industry to achieve carbon net zero goals.”
Alternative non-nickel-manganese-cobalt cathode solution
With traditional lithium-ion battery materials in critically short supply for EV manufacturing, Lyten’s lithium-sulphur battery will offer an alternative, non-nickel-manganese-cobalt cathode solution that supports the global transition to electric vehicles at mass market scale.
Lyten’s goal is to provide a secure supply of performance-based and environmentally sustainable products to its customers, while also enabling auto manufacturers to take advantage of growing U.S. and European policy incentives.
Lyten’s lithium-sulphur battery, composites, and sensor technologies are initially being produced on its 145,000 square foot campus in Silicon Valley. Apart from producing EV batteries, Lyten is working with previous customers to start delivering lithium-sulphur batteries and 3D graphene-infused composites for specialty markets in 2023. Lyten is collaborating with its strategic investors from across multiple industries to apply Lyten 3D Graphene materials to decarbonise additional, carbon intensive sectors beyond transportation, with more announcements planned for later this year.