Sustainability in pole position: battery cells for the highest performance
Loud engines, the smell of gasoline, and maximum acceleration. These have been the hallmarks of high-performance racing until now. However, in times of climate change, sustainable alternatives are needed. Special lithium-ion battery cells can help to put a whole new generation of supercars on the track, drive forward the electrification of racing, and create the basis for a wide variety of innovations that extend far beyond mobility.
The racetrack presents the toughest competitive environment in the world and has always been a guarantor of innovation. This is all the more true at a time when not only Formula 1, as the most range-bound racing series of our time, is striving for holistic climate neutrality. We at CustomCells, one of the leading companies in the development and series production of state-of-the-art lithium-ion battery cells, are working on developing the technology for the next generation of battery cells.
This will guarantee maximum acceleration for the electrification of racing, maximum performance, and innovations for the mobility sector and beyond.
Application-specific battery cells for peak performance
From ABS to disc brakes, technologies first made their debut in sports before successful use in the mass market. With lithium-ion battery cells, this story continues. Batteries are the new powerhouse of the vehicle, and the cell, its heart. Cell design determines the performance parameters of the vehicle, as well as its construction. Within what temperature range does the battery operate optimally? Which cooling systems must be integrated into the vehicle? What safety precautions must be taken? Answers to all these questions are found in the design of the respective cells.
Individually manufactured battery cells help to make the technology usable in the extreme performance ranges of these applications. They are continually pushing the boundaries of what is already possible in the development of electromobility today and what may still be possible in the future. A standard cell only delivers standard performance for the construction of standard vehicles. Special lithium-ion cells, on the other hand, enable us to fundamentally redefine electromobility.
Unique requirements in motorsports
First, a motorsport vehicle places completely different demands on a battery than a normal road car. These include a particularly high energy and power density of up to 800 watt-hours per liter. To achieve such an energy density, for example, we use silicon as the anode material for the cells. The new chemistry also enables fast-charging capabilities thanks to lower internal resistance.
Compared to a normal road vehicle, the design must allow for compact dimensions in the construction of the sports car and be capable of withstanding high temperatures. While mass-produced batteries are designed for temperatures of up to around 55 degrees Celsius, the extremes of motorsport require battery cells that, thanks to their design, their special chemistry, and particularly efficient cooling systems, still provide optimum power at temperatures of more than 75 degrees Celsius. This prevents them from having to be regulated down or possibly even being damaged at excessively high operating temperatures.
Who benefits from the technology?
This experience from the development and use of special lithium-ion battery cells will ultimately benefit electromobility and electrification of the economy. The high-temperature suitability of battery cells is an essential prerequisite for use in the oil and gas industry, as well as in photovoltaic systems. It will also benefit medical technology. Findings on fast-charging capabilities can benefit the mass market by scaling the technology and lowering costs.
Above all, the use of special lithium-ion battery cells enables a wide range of solutions in the field of electromobility that not only go beyond the usual standards but are also more urgent should the energy revolution in the mobility sector succeed. For example, every Formula 1 race is to be sustainable from as early as 2025 and CO2-neutral by 2030.
High-performance battery cell technology can play a key role along the way. But the electrification of maritime and vertical mobility also requires battery cells that significantly exceed the performance of today’s conventional lithium-ion batteries in the automotive sector. Like sports cars, energy density and cell format also play a key role in drones and other future flying machines. For the e-taxi company Lilium, CustomCells also develops and produces cells that meet this industry’s own special challenges.
At CustomCells, we are pushing ahead with the development of new battery cell types at full speed. These include lithium-sulfur batteries and lithium-silicon batteries; each of which offers its own unique advantages over conventional lithium-ion batteries while posing completely new challenges. These next-generation battery cells may also first prove themselves in application extremes, such as in motorsports, to enable the next innovative leap in the history of electromobility.
Master of Batteries is a publication by CustomCells, one of the leading companies in the development and series production of state-of-the-art lithium-ion battery cells.
