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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Lithium/iron sulfide batteries for electric vehicles

Conference ·
OSTI ID:6540716

Recent progress in the development of LiAl/FeS/sub x/ batteries for electric vehicles has indicated the possibility of near-term commercialization of a version of the battery that utilizes monosulfide (FeS) positive electrodes in conjunction with low-cost, iron-alloy current collectors. Eagle-Picher Industries, Inc., was awarded a one-year contract to fabricate a 40-kWh battery of this type, which will be tested in a van at ANL in 1979. Multiple-electrode cells having a specific energy of about 100 Wh/kg are now under test. Conceptual design problems for a compact insulating jacket, which will maintain the battery temperature at 450/sup 0/C, appear to have been solved. With such a jacket, the energy efficiency of the battery would be decreased by only 3 to 5% as a result of heat losses if the temperature of the battery is permitted to fluctuate by 20 to 50/sup 0/C. A commercial prototype of the FeS-type battery that could be developed by 1981 to 1983, depending on the rate of funding available, would be expected to have a specific energy of about 100 Wh/kg, an energy density of 200 Wh/liter t a 4-h discharge rate (including the weight and volume of the jacket and hardware), and a specific power of 100 to 125 W/kg. Work is also underway on a version of the battery that would utilize FeS/sub 2/ positive electrodes, which use molybdenum current collectors at present and may require the future development of less expensive current collectors to be commercially attractive. These batteries would ultimately have about 30 to 40% higher specific energy and 50 to 75% higher specific power than the FeS-type batteries. 7 figures, 4 tables.

Research Organization:
Argonne National Lab., IL (USA)
DOE Contract Number:
W-31109-ENG-38
OSTI ID:
6540716
Report Number(s):
CONF-781006-2
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English