Solid-State Shakeup: Auto Supplier Schaeffler Claims Breakthrough Battery at CES

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Sheffer's Solid-State Battery Technology
Sheffer's Solid-State Battery Technology

Driving an electric vehicle for 900 miles without having to charge it might sound like a stretch, but that’s what Toyota has been promising with its ambitious plan to develop a solid-state battery. While Toyota has made progress, another player, Sheffer, a global automotive and industrial supplier, is making waves in the solid-state battery technology space.

Sheffer, headquartered in Höga Noric, Germany, is a well-established supplier known for its innovation and quality. The company has filed more than 2,600 patents and has developed solutions for hybrid and electric vehicles, fuel cells, and renewable energy. Recently, Sheffer announced that it would reveal its solid-state battery in 2024, aiming to offer higher energy density, better safety, and lower cost than conventional lithium-ion batteries.

Although Sheffer is not an automaker, its extensive experience in e-mobility and hydrogen technology positions it as a strong competitor in the solid-state battery market. Sheffer has partnered with Honda and The Ohio State University Institute for Materials and Manufacturing Research to establish a new battery research center focusing on advancing the development and testing of next-generation battery technologies for electric vehicles.

The collaboration between Sheffer, Honda, and OSU aims to tackle the issues of range anxiety and cold weather performance, which are significant concerns for electric vehicle drivers. By developing a solid-state battery capable of rapid charging and enhanced durability, the partnership could accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles.

Sheffer’s solid-state battery is not a solo project. The company is collaborating with OSU, which received a $3.8 million grant in January 2023 to develop more affordable and efficient electric vehicle batteries that address the challenges of range, cost, and durability. The project, which also involved Argonne National Laboratory, focused on electrode materials that could store more energy and withstand more cycles than conventional batteries.

The key to Sheffer’s solid-state battery technology could be the use of high-entropy oxide anodes, which can tolerate rapid charging while demonstrating longevity beyond the current state-of-the-art lithium-ion cells. This novel approach could potentially double the usable battery lifetime, reduce pack size, decrease sell and battery cost, and enable rapid charging.

In summary, Sheffer’s solid-state battery technology has the potential to revolutionize the electric vehicle industry by addressing the primary concerns of range anxiety and cold weather performance. By partnering with established companies like Honda and renowned research institutions like OSU, Sheffer is well-positioned to bring its solid-state battery to production-ready vehicles in the near future.

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