Power Improved ZEBRA Battery for Zero Emission Vehicles

The ZEBRA Battery is a high energy battery developed for powering a ZEV. The electrode materials used for production are salt (NaCl) and nickel (Ni) in combination with a ceramic electrolyte. During charging the salt is decomposed to sodium (Na) and nickelchloride (NiCl₂) is formed. During discharge salt is formed in the reverse reaction.

This battery realizes an energy density of more than 90 Wh/kg which exceeds the USABC mid-term goals. These goals were set to achieve a ZEV with acceptable range and performance. The ZEBRA Battery has demonstrated the other USABC mid-term goals:

1.200 cycles in vehicle operation, more than 8 years in an accelerated calendar life test and recharge time of less than 6 hours. Due to the thermal management environmental conditions of -30 °C to +65 °C do not cause any problems. In order to meet also the power and cost goals a program has been started. Two approaches for power improvement at 80 % DOD show promising results: The geometric approach by increasing the surface area of the ceramic electrolyte and the chemical approach by addititives to the cathode composition.