The Fraunhofer Institute for Silicate Research ISC and Hydro-Québec have signed a partnership agreement to carry out research and development (R&D) into next generation lithium-ion and lithium-air battery materials to be used in transportation electrification.
The parties will focus on inorganic electrolytes, particularly glass-ceramic electrolytes.
Fraunhofer ISC professor and director Gerhard Sextl said : "Hydro-Québec is Québec's most important energy supplier and one of the biggest producers of hydroelectricity and other renewable energies in the world.
"Hydro-Québec is a very powerful partner in developing trendsetting technologies for the storage and use of clean energy in transportation."
Stellenbosch University professor and Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft executive vice president Alfred Gossner noted that by joining forces with Hydro-Québec, the institute is positive about increasing its speed in the development of next generation solid-state battery with energy density doubled.
"The impact of this new technology could be enormous—especially for electric mobility applications."
Hydro-Québec research institute at IREQ energy storage and conservation director Karim Zaghib mentioned that Fraunhofer is one of Europe’s most prestigious research institutions and in particular, it has an impressive track record in the field of battery materials.
He also noted that like Hydro-Québec, it invests in research projects that look to meet specific, concrete needs. He was confident that the partnership could contribute significantly to extending electric vehicle battery range.
Fraunhofer ISC is engaged in the development of material and processing solutions for energy and resource efficiency.
As part of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft für anwendungsorientierte Forschung e. V., the research institute works for small and midsized companies as well as large companies and OEMs or public institutions.