Recently, the skyrocketing prices of battery raw materials such as lithium, nickel, and cobalt have been causing headaches. In addition, the lack of revolutionary breakthroughs in the energy density of lithium-ion batteries still troubles electric vehicle consumers, giving rise to range anxiety. These challenges may soon be solved with the advent of a new type of battery.
Dr. Ulrich Ehmes, a battery expert, was recently appointed CEO of Theion, and announced that their revolutionary product – the Crystal Battery – will soon hit the market. Dr. Ehmes has extensive experience in the battery industry, previously working at Leclanché, a Swiss-listed lithium-ion battery company. At Theion, Dr. Ehmes will lead the commercialization of Theion’s lithium-sulfur battery cathode technology.
The innovation behind Theion’s Crystal Battery lies in the use of sulfur, which reduces the demand for materials such as nickel and cobalt. Sulfur has many advantages, such as abundant reserves, low cost, and being environmentally friendly and non-toxic. The materials used in Theion’s Crystal Battery are 99% cheaper than those used in existing lithium-ion batteries, and the energy required to produce a single Crystal Battery is reduced by 90%. Compared with traditional lithium-ion batteries, the energy density and range of the Crystal Battery produced by this technology have increased three-fold.
The energy density target of the first generation of Theion’s Crystal Battery is 500 Wh/kg. The product will continue to be upgraded, with the fourth generation’s energy density predicted to reach 1000 Wh/kg.
“Sulfur is a gift from nature. Our patented technology unleashes the full potential of sulfur as an energy carrier,” said Marek Slavik, co-founder and CTO of Theion. “Sulfur is abundant in nature, and its use will greatly reduce the cost of battery materials. Our Crystal Battery is a form of renewable energy.”
Theion’s patented technology improves the battery’s cycling performance by combining the crystalline characteristics of sulfur with carbon nanotubes and specialized solid electrolytes. The company will provide power to aerospace clients this year and then turn to airplanes, air taxis, drones, mobile phones, and laptops.
Theion has received investment support from Lukasz Gadowski, CEO of Team Global. Team Global is a European technology holding company that focuses on investing in and founding cutting-edge technology companies. They created the well-known multinational food delivery platform, Delivery Hero, and have invested in many other companies such as Volocopter, Zapata, and AutoFlight. The investment in Theion by Team Global greatly enhances the synergies of its investment portfolio.
“Amidst the surging demand for batteries in the industry, but with fluctuations in material costs and sustainable procurement, Theion’s technological breakthroughs come at the right time,” said Lukasz Gadowski, founder and CEO of Team Global and major investor in Theion, “Theion’s crystal battery is suitable for all mobile devices, is sustainable, and can triple the battery life of mobile phones, electric cars, and electric aircraft. After full production, crystal batteries may replace the batteries in every mobile device on earth.”
Theion is headquartered in Berlin and has three offices specializing in battery design, sample production, and testing. Theion plans to achieve large-scale production by increasing its equipment. The location of Theion’s super factory has not yet been determined, but based on its proximity to customer groups, the company may establish multiple production bases in Europe, Asia, and the United States.
Finally, do you have confidence in crystal batteries?
This article is a translation by ChatGPT of a Chinese report from 42HOW. If you have any questions about it, please email bd@42how.com.