Planar Energy Displays Breakthrough Battery Technology, Fully Tested By UCF Researchers

By Eric Loveday

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10,546 views Mar 4, 2010

Planar Energy

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From time to time we here about breakthroughs or potential breakthroughs in battery technology for electric vehicles.  Some breakthroughs become a reality such as large format lithium-ion technology, where as other possible breakthroughs never see the light of day.  A company called Planar Energy has presented a breakthrough in large format lithium-ion batteries that is worthy of discussion.

The basic breakthrough involves the use of a new generation solid state electrolyte within the battery rather than the typical liquid electrolytes found in use today.

Planar Energy believes that their technology will lead to reduced costs and better performance for large format lithium-ion electric vehicle batteries.  Testing on the new technology has been conducted by the University of Central Florida's Advanced Materials Processing and Analysis Center (AMPAC).  throughout the course of testing the UCF labs have verified the accuracy of the claims of Planar Energy and the new technology meets the goals of the company.

Dr. M.J. Soileau, a UCF professor of optics, electrical & computer engineering and physics, who is the university’s vice president for research & commercialization said, "AMPAC scientists independently confirmed that Planar Energy’s new generation of solid state electrolytes have ionic conductivity metrics comparable to liquid electrolytes used in traditional chemical batteries."

Rather than trying to break down the complex technologies involved in the new large format batteries from Planar Energy, refer to the attached press release for specific information.

Source:  Planar Energy Press Release

UNIVERSITY OF CENTRAL FLORIDA RESEARCHERS CONFIRM BATTERY BREAKTHROUGH DEVELOPED BY PLANAR ENERGY

Tests validate company’s findings demonstrating cost savings, materials and efficiency
advantages that could take automotive industry a step closer to practical electric vehicles

ORLANDO, FLA., March 1, 2010 – Researchers at the University of Central Florida’s (UCF) Advanced Materials Processing and Analysis Center (AMPAC)) have verified findings by Planar Energy that could lead to dramatic cost and performance improvements in large format batteries required for practical electric vehicles.

―AMPAC scientists independently confirmed that Planar Energy’s new generation of solid state electrolytes have ionic conductivity metrics comparable to liquid electrolytes used in traditional chemical batteries,‖ said Dr. M.J. Soileau, a UCF professor of optics, electrical & computer engineering and physics, who is the university’s vice president for research & commercialization.

―This fundamental materials breakthrough, coupled with our proprietary low-cost manufacturing process, will render traditional chemical batteries obsolete,‖ declared Scott Faris, president and CEO of Planar Energy.

―It will allow solid state battery fabrication that will enable manufacturers to increase their capacity by 200-to-300 percent, while reducing costs more than 50 percent,‖ he continued. ―This is what the automotive industry needs to make electric vehicles practical and affordable.‖
Members of Planar Energy’s research team conducted early work in solutions-based materials deposition at the former Bell Labs research center in Orlando, work that was continued at UCF focused in the field of low-cost solar films. Planar Energy has been working with UCF researchers on two Florida High Tech Corridor Council (FHTCC) matching grants to develop its technology.