PHEV and HEV Batteries

PHEV Batteries

Argonne is a major player in the Department of Energy's (DOE's) plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) energy storage research and development (R&D) program. DOE has implemented a relatively new program to develop PHEV technologies, with the goal of achieving the equivalent of a 40-mile all-electric driving range.

The key enabling technology needed to achieve this goal is a more optimal energy storage system. Argonne is a major player in DOE's PHEV energy storage R&D program. Argonne's activities in support of this DOE program include:

• Support for establishing energy storage requirements and baseline performance characteristics
• Transition DOE's applied R&D program to focus on Li-Ion battery materials and cell chemistries for PHEV applications
• Develop advanced electrode and electrolyte materials that will significantly increase the energy density and enhance the inherent abuse tolerance of Li-Ion batteries. Read more.

HEV Batteries

In late 1998 and early 1999, Argonne worked with the Department of Energy (DOE) to organize and implement an applied battery R&D program. The goal of this program was to help industrial developers of Li-Ion batteries overcome key barriers in using this promising technology in hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs). Argonne is the lead laboratory for this program, the Advanced Technology Development (ATD) Program. Also, some of the materials research being conducted for DOE's exploratory research program, the Batteries for Advanced Transportation Technologies (BATT) Program, is related to high-power electrode materials suitable for use in HEV applications. Finally, Argonne is frequently contacted by industrial firms to work with them on collaborative R&D projects. Some of these projects are directly or indirectly linked to Li-Ion HEV battery technologies. Read more.

May 2008