Sion Power Corporation,
Tucson, Ariz., USA, and BASF SE, Ludwigshafen, Germany, today announced a Joint
Development Agreement (JDA) to accelerate the commercialization of Sion Power's
proprietary lithium-sulfur (Li-S) battery technology, e.g., for the electric
vehicle (EV) market and other high-energy applications.
The Sion Power / BASF collaboration targets the development of battery materials
to improve Li-S battery life and to increase the energy density and thus extend
driving range of future EVs beyond what is currently available with alternative
rechargeable battery technologies. Li-S technology already offers significant
energy density and weight advantages over those existing technologies.
According to Dr. Dennis Mangino, CEO of Sion Power, “We are proud to
be partnered with BASF, the world’s leading chemical company, as we accelerate
the development and introduction of our high energy, light weight, and transformational
battery products. BASF’s vast expertise in materials development and manufacturing
are important to our success.”
“We are excited to join Sion Power in advancing Li-S technology,”
said Dr. Thomas Weber, CEO of BASF Future Business. “It is clear that
Sion’s technology offers high potential for significantly longer driving
ranges over other technologies currently being considered for electric vehicles.
We see a clear need for higher energy densities of the storage devices, and
we will join forces with Sion to bring this technology to the market using innovative
solutions. In combination with the lithium ion battery consortium 'HE-Lion'
that we have formed recently, we further strengthen our efforts to advance battery
technology.”
Improved battery technology is a fundamental requirement for more efficient
use of current and renewable energy sources. The recently passed American Recovery
and Reinvestment Act of 2009 provides for $2 billion for the development and
manufacture of advanced automotive batteries. All major automotive manufactures
are vigorously pursuing the introduction of electric vehicles that are environmentally
friendly yet provide the range and comfort consumers expect in an automobile,
features that cannot be obtained with any currently available battery technology.