Focus on advanced lithium propulsion testing for truck battery packs
Exchangeable truck battery firm Janus Electric has linked with Li-S Energy for battery-pack technology development and testing.
The partners are to look into the suitability of lithium sulphur and/or lithium metal battery cells, in a move Janus foreshadowed at this year’s Brisbane Truck Show.
Back then, the company explained that its battery-cell technology would be “fully upgradable with new emerging battery technology” as lithium cells are superseded.
The focus of the research will be on proving advanced technology using boron nitride nanotubes (BNNT) and Li-nanomesh, both Li-S specialties.
The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) identified lithium-sulphur as a future development for vehicle batteries in a Senate submission on electric vehicles in 2018.
Sulphur is seen as an inexpensive boosting agent for batteries.
Each Janus Electric exchangeable battery pack currently uses conventional lithium-ion cells and has an energy capacity of 600KWh, each equivalent to six long-range electric cars.
Read how Janus Electric made a splash at the Brisbane Truck Show, here
“Janus Electric is excited to work with Li-S to develop an Australian solution for its quick-change battery packs,” Janus GM Lex Forsyth said.
“Using Australian technology in our products will further support Australian manufacturers and development of zero emission transport solutions making them more accessible to heavy vehicle fleet operators large and small globally.”
The companies said the objectives of the collaboration are to:
- increase vehicle range between battery exchanges
- reduce the total weight of each battery pack.
Subject to successful testing, Li-S Energy being able deliver sufficient volume supply and agreement of further commercial terms, Janus Electric intends to progressively phase out lithium-ion cells and purchase Li-S Energy cells to meet its projected requirements of 495,000 cells (total 247.5MWh) by the end of 2023, with additional demand growth expected in future years.
“We are excited to collaborate with Janus Electric on its ground-breaking battery exchange systems for heavy vehicles, Li-S Energy CEO Dr Lee Finniear said.
“It’s great to have Australian companies working together on such important technology which can accelerate the pathway to a zero carbon Australian transportation system.
“We thank Janus Electric for its demonstrated confidence in our collaboration with its intention to purchase Li-S Energy battery cells and its forward volume projections.”