Wide global deployment of electric vehicles (EVs) is necessary to reduce transport related emissions, as transport is responsible for around a quarter of EU greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and more than two thirds of transport-related GHG emissions are from road transport.
SUBLIME’s overall aim is to significantly increase EV adoption by taking on the technical challenges that are presented by the consumer needs – especially the higher energy densities, increasing their capabilities regarding long distance traveling.
The overall technical objectives are to develop and optimize the materials to be used in the cells, especially suitable cathode and sulphidic solid state electrolyte (SSE) and upscale their production.
SUBLIME has brought the sulfide electrolyte solid-state battery technology, depending on aspect, to TRL 4 to 6. The scale- up to pre-industrial volume and cell capacity will ensure that results are, indeed, scalable to large- volume commercial manufacturing. In terms of practical application, the integration of the sulfide- based all-solid-state EV battery as developed within SUBLIME, will enable to increase the driving range of the EVs and reduce the thermal runaway risks. The battery is inherently safe, and by the avoidance of high cobalt contents reduces issues with scarcity of critical component materials, whiles the sulphidic contents of the solid electrolyte is available in abundance. Furthermore, the developed SUBLIME concept will contribute to a high recyclability (90%) and ability of recover cell materials at the end of the product lifetime.
For the primary pathway, the SUBLIME cells on 1 Ah capacity level have demonstrated 100 Wh/kg and 225 Wh/L. Beyond SUBLIME, short term energy density improvements have been identified, paving the way to reach 50% of the final objectives 450 Wh/kg & 1200 Wh/l within an estimated leadtime <1 year. Outlook on how to reach the final energy capacity targets has been developed. 240 Cycles demonstrated with In/SSE/MNC cell, 92 Cycles demonstrated with Li/SSE/MNC cell, C/10 rate. The safety requirements of the cells have been achieved. The cells will be useable for the automotive application environment.
For the secondary pathway of very high power density cells, the intended ionic conductivity levels for the materials have been reached, the maximum power level at discharge was demonstrated as 207.93 Wh/kg, 12.63 Wh/l, 0.585 kW/kg at 2C and 50 charge and discharge cycles on coin cell level with 6.7 mAh.
Cell costs analysis has revealed that the SUBLIME cell concept will contribute to low cells costs (114€/kWh end 2024, 75€/kWh in 2030) provided that expected material cost benefits by the corresponding large scale production volume of materials and processing can be leveraged.
