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A novel manufacturing method to bring solid-state thin-film batteries to mass market

Project description

Thin-film solid-state batteries for mass-market applications

Rechargeable (lithium-ion) batteries are nearing their full potential due to the limitation of their fundamental component – liquid electrolyte. Solid electrolyte batteries (solid-state batteries) have around twice the energy density, better performance, and are safer. However, the complexity of their manufacturing prevents their application to mainstream consumer devices. In this context, the EU-funded TheBatteries project will develop very low production cost thin film solid-state batteries for mass-market applications (smartphones, smartwatches, wearables and other devices). The project will implement portable device pilots with the innovative batteries through tight collaborations with original equipment manufacturers, generate early market traction through various wearable device verticals, and build a production facility to manufacture thin film batteries to meet the early demand.

Objective

Since their commercial introduction in 1991, rechargeable batteries have been getting better, but the rate of improvement has slowed down. We still don’t have mass market smartphones that run longer than a day on a single charge.
The main reason why Li-ion batteries are nearing their full potential is the limitation of its key component—liquid electrolyte. On the contrary, novel with solid electrolyte batteries (solid-state batteries) have ~2x energy density, better performance & are safer to use. However, the complexity of their manufacturing have not allowed them to enter mainstream consumer applications.
We are developing new types of plasma evaporation vacuum manufacturing equipment that provides an engineering breakthrough over the iterative development of vacuum technology that has been taking place since 1980s. Our manufacturing process finally makes economies of scale work in thin-film solid-state batteries production, reaching the very low production costs. This cost price will make it economically viable to produce advanced thin-film batteries for such mass market applications as smartphones, smartwatches, wearables & other devices.
Despite of the current high production prices of solid-state batteries, the market is forecasted to grow to ~€2.8bn by 2021. As thin-film solid-state batteries manufactured with our technology are only 2-3X more expensive than Li-ion batteries (but ~13X cheaper than competitive thin-film solid-state batteries), we have an opportunity to disrupt the market, triggering overall shift towards solid-state batteries.
To bring our thin-film batteries to the market we will implement pilot portable device pilots with our batteries through tight collaborations with OEMs, generate early market traction through various wearable device verticals & build a production facility to manufacture thin-film batteries to meet the early demand.
We are aiming at ~€15m revenues & ~70 FTEs by 2022.

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Topic(s)

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Funding Scheme

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SME-1 - SME instrument phase 1

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Call for proposal

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(opens in new window) H2020-EIC-SMEInst-2018-2020

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Coordinator

THE BATTERIES SP ZOO
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 50 000,00
Address
UL PL JANA KILINSKIEGO 2
35-005 RZESZOW
Poland

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SME

The organization defined itself as SME (small and medium-sized enterprise) at the time the Grant Agreement was signed.

Yes
Region
Makroregion wschodni Podkarpackie Rzeszowski
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Links
Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 71 429,00
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