Recent articles on ZAP’s battery technology pioneering efforts...
ZAP has been working with Lithium Balance since the beginning of the year on this new battery management system, which the company says will help their vehicles get up to 152 miles per charge. The Danish company is using two Xebra electric vehicles for testing of this new system, achieving in July a distance of around 100 miles per charge. ZAP says it has acquired the exclusive rights of this technology into electric vehicle development.
As for how this new system works its magic, ZAP says it is smaller and lighter, which helps to increase "the energy density by eight to ten times" versus batteries currently found in most electric autos. This system will also reportedly improve upon safety and reliability of larger lithium battery packs for automotive uses.
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ZAP recently agreed to acquire $5.168 million in lithium-polymer and nanotech batteries from Advance Battery Technologies for use in ZAP's line of XEBRA electric cars and trucks as well as other vehicles and battery systems. The deal was struck after a meeting between ZAP CEO Steve Schneider and Advanced Battery Technologies chairman Zhigou Fu.
"After spending a great deal of time with Mr. Fu, we believe he is a true visionary with the desire to improve the environment through technology," said Schneider in a statement. "We are looking forward to testing these new batteries in our ZAP cars, trucks, motorbikes and other vehicles."
Advanced Battery Technologies is using nanotechnology to create a new generation of lithium-polymer batteries with a higher energy density while improving the performance, life expectancy and safety.
Lithium ion batteries have been a leading technology for electric cars for years. While the technology has been proven in smaller formats, it was found to be less stable in larger formats. Because they are inert, nanoparticles do not sulfate in reaction with the chemistry of lithium-polymer batteries, unlike conventional graphite electrode materials.
According to the companies, nanotechnology helps produce a more stable battery system, allowing larger format lithium batteries with a safer, more robust chemistry. These smaller, nanoparticles also create a greater surface area -- up to 100 times greater -- allowing a faster, shorter-distance transmission of electrons in and out of the battery, boosting energy density while increasing the charge and discharge rate for improved performance.
Moreover, the more stable battery chemistry increases the battery’s life expectancy, with an estimated cycle life of more than 1000 charges, more than double that of conventional batteries. For an electric car, this results in a 3 to 5 x improvement in electric vehicle range and speed, and faster charging times.
