Stellantis will test Lyten’s lithium-sulfur batteries with a view to possible commercialization. Lyten, one of the most important US companies in the production of batteries, has sent the first samples of this type of battery to its partners. These are 6.5 Ah Li-S pouch cells, which will now have to pass the in-depth tests of the electrical manufacturers.
“This achievement is the result of years of dedicated work and innovation by the Lyten team” commented Dan Cook, CEO and founder of Lyten. “We are only at the first step of our journey to increase the capacity of our lithium-sulfur cells”.
Lithium-sulphur batteries are part of that vast array of projects that aim to replace current lithium-ion batteries, and seem to gradually become one of the most accredited projects.
The benefits of this type of battery are many: with a possible enormous energy density – we are talking about 500 Wh/kg – to the use of an element such as sulfur, among the most abundant on Earth. Without neglecting the absence of critical materials such as nickel, cobalt and manganese in the cathode.
On the other hand, limiting its potential on the market is an extremely limited duration, in the order of ten charging cycles.
Lyten would have managed to mitigate the fearful “shuttle effect” with a graphene micro-structure
One of the most serious contraindications in the use of Lithium-Sulfur batteries is the so-called “shuttle effect” of the polysulphide in the cell, i.e. the formation of lithium polysulphide molecules in the cathode which “travel” – hence the term shuttle – towards the ‘anode.
Once the anode becomes covered in polysulfides, it remains electrically isolated and, therefore, the cell no longer works. This all happens in just a few charging cycles.
To mitigate the shuttle effect, Lyten has created a particular proprietary graphene structure inside the cathode. In addition to eliminating the feared problem, with this structure Lyten aims to improve the overall stability and conductivity of the battery.
LG Energy Solution working to create lithium-sulfur batteries. The arrival on the market is scheduled for 2027
The shipment of the first battery prototypes is an important step towards the commercialization of this type of battery. In addition to Stellantis, other important manufacturers will be involved in the trial. Among these there will also be Chrysler, which has already used a lithium-sulphur battery in the Halcyon concept car.
The relationship between Stellantis and Lyten can now be said to be long-standing. In fact, in May 2023, the Italian-French producer invested in Lyten, under the aegis of the venture capital fund Stellantis Ventures.
Stellantis invests in Lyten. The revolutionary Lithium-Sulfur batteries ever closer
However, the United States Department of Energy is also involved in Lyten, which recently injected four million dollars of funds into the company’s coffers.
