TransForum Vol. 8, No. 2

Argonne Hosts 1st International Conference on Advanced Lithium Batteries for Automobile Applications

Argonne National Laboratory and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Vehicle Technologies Program hosted the 1st International Conference on Advanced Lithium Batteries for Automobile Applications on September 15-17, 2008. Realizing the significant technological challenges preventing the use of lithium batteries for transportation applications, organizers from the U.S., Japan and Korea jointly initiated the conference.

Among available battery technologies, lithium-ion batteries have the highest capacity and energy density, and are promising candidates for energy storage for hybrid electric (HEV) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). However, technological barriers hindering the commercial use of lithium-ion batteries for HEVs and PHEVs are their high cost, short calendar and cycle life, limited low-temperature performance during cold cranking and intrinsic abuse tolerance.

Hence, the mission of the conference was to

• Enhance the global R&D effort onadvanced lithium batteries for automobile applications;
• Accelerate the discussion and communication of R&D progress, achievement and problems; and
• Strengthen global collaboration in this important and challenging field.

Conference topics included:

• New cell chemistries (cathode, anode, electrolyte and electrolyte additives);
• Power and capacity fade mechanism of lithium-ion batteries;
• Advanced design for low cost materials and processes;
• Component- and system-level safety mechanisms and novel techniques to improve abuse tolerance;
• Understanding performance limitations at low temperatures at the chemistry and system levels; and
• New lithium battery systems.

The meeting was co-chaired by Dr. Khalil Amine, Argonne National Laboratory; Mr. Tien Duong, U.S. Department of Energy; Prof. Zempachi Ogumi, Kyoto University, Japan; and Prof. Yang-Kook Sun, Hanyang University, Korea.

The international audience included about 400 persons from major auto, battery and material industries, as well as national laboratories and representative universities.

Sponsors supported the conference. Keystone Level sponsors included A123 Systems, EnerDel Lithium Power Systems, ExxonMobil Chemical, and Quallion. Nissan was a Platinum Level sponsor. Envia Systems was a Gold Level sponsor. Silver Level sponsors included the Alfred Mann Foundation, Air Products, and the Mann Medical Research Organization.

November 2008