A research paper titled “Li[Ni0.5Mn0.3Co0.2]O2 as a Superior Alternative to LiFePO4 for Long-Lived Low Voltage Li-Ion Cells” was published by Tesla battery researchers. It was published in the Journal of the Electrochemical Society. It details the electric vehicle battery than can last for about 100 years, before needing to be replaced.
The Tesla Advanced Battery Research division was founded at Dalhousie University in Canada. Since 2016, the team was led by Dr. Jeff Dahm to develop a nickel-based battery that has better longevity than the current one. Currently, Tesla estimates that its batteries in the vehicles would easily last between 300,000 and 500,000 miles – equivalent to 20 years.
Now, the research paper reveals that the new battery could be five times more long-lasting than the current battery. According to the paper, the nickel-based battery would be able to overcome the durability limitations and energy density of the LFP battery. Which will improve the life cycle of the battery under optimum conditions. Stated, “NMC cells, particularly those balanced and charged to 3.8 V, show better Coulombic efficiency, less capacity fade, and higher energy density compared to LFP cells and are projected to yield lifetimes approaching a century at 25 °C.”
Real-life applications
However, regardless of the creation, it remains unclear whether the battery will be ready for production. There were quite a few patents and papers by the same group for the Tesla batteries. Recently the contract was extended through 2026, also two new leaders were to be mentored by Dahn. One of the leaders is Michael Metzger and a handful of PhDs in the program.
The paper describes a nickel-based battery chemistry meant to compete with LFP battery cells on longevity while retaining the properties that people like in nickel-based batteries, like higher energy density, which enables longer range with fewer batteries for electric vehicles. The paper stated, “Single crystal Li[Ni0.5Mn0.3Co0.2]O2//graphite (NMC532) pouch cells with only sufficient graphite for operation to 3.80 V (rather than ≥4.2 V) were cycled with charging to either 3.65 V or 3.80 V to facilitate comparison with LiFePO4//graphite (LFP) pouch cells on the grounds of similar maximum charging potential and similar negative electrode utilization.”
The cells showed an impressive capacity retention over a high number of cycles. The research group even noted that the new cell described in the paper could last a 100 years if the temperature is controlled at 25C. Said, “Ultra-high precision coulometry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy are used to complement cycling results and investigate the reasons for the improved performance of the NMC cells.” While the technicality continues, it might be possible that the team is working on making the batteries a reality. But, it would be too early to predict anything with a research paper.
