ProLogium Technology premiered its 100% silicon composite anode battery at the 2024 Paris Motor Show. This battery technology, certified by TÜV Rheinland, has been adopted partner with FEV Group to develop a next-generation battery pack, showcasing ProLogium’s substantial progress in LCB (lithium ceramic battery) commercialization and introducing an exciting new concept to the market.

“Our next-generation battery technology effectively addresses many of the challenges in the electric vehicle industry,” said Vincent Yang, ProLogium’s Founder and Chairman. “Our goal is to be a game changer in the market, injecting new energy into the electric vehicle sector.”

Founded in 2006, ProLogium specializes in lithium ceramic battery solutions for various markets including electric vehicles. With over 900 patents, the company has delivered more than 8000 next-generation battery samples to global automakers.

Its first gigafactory, Taoke in Taiwan, will supply automakers in 2024 and drive global capacity expansion. In May, ProLogium opened its first overseas R&D center in Paris-Saclay. Its Dunkirk gigafactory project is advancing, with construction expected by late 2024 or early 2025 and mass production set for 2027.

 

Paris debut for FEV pack collaboration

The debut marks ProLogium’s accelerated progress toward the commercialization of lithium ceramic batteries, reinforcing its role in shaping the future of the industry. The new battery system not only surpasses traditional lithium-ion batteries in energy density and charging efficiency but also addresses critical industry challenges.

“Our new technology has broken through existing barriers,” said Dr. Dmitry Belov, Chief Scientist of ProLogium Technology. “Since 2023, we’ve consistently outperformed our competitors, with the gap only growing larger, in both energy density and in fast-charging performance.”

The 100% silicon composite anode significantly enhances energy density and fast-charging performance. The system achieves a volumetric energy density of 749 W·h/L and a gravimetric energy density of 321 W·h/kg, with projections to improve these numbers to 823 W·h/L and 355 W·h/kg by the end of 2024.

Compared to mainstream LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate) batteries at under 200 W·h/kg and NCM (Nickel Manganese Cobalt) batteries at 200-300 W·h/kg, ProLogium’s technology has already surpassed current lithium-ion batteries on the market, with the gap expected to widen by up to 77% by the end of the year.

With its battery offering superior energy density and fast-charging capabilities, ProLogium is pitching a “Small Battery, Big Future” concept. With only 66% of the total energy capacity of current lithium-ion batteries needed, the company says an application can go from 83 to 55 kW·h, cutting vehicle mass by 300 kg and boosting both energy efficiency and driving range for an enhanced experience. This reduction in battery capacity also translates into lower carbon taxes and decreased initial vehicle costs.

According to TÜV Rheinland test data, the battery charges from 5% to 60% in just 5 min and can reach 80% in 8.5 min, an achievement said to be unmatched in the competitive EV market.

A 5-min charge provides an approximate range of 300 km, outpacing the industry’s 30-min average. This ultra-fast charging reduces wait times by 83.3%, improving efficiency and turnover rates while addressing the pressing challenges of limited charging stations and long wait times.

Beyond those advantages, ProLogium’s modular design allows for easier repairs and facilitates cell recycling, reducing maintenance costs and increasing the resale value of used electric vehicles. Together, these four features directly contribute to a reduced total cost of ownership, offering consumers a more affordable and sustainable EV solution.

The unveiling of ProLogium and FEV’s strategic partnership at the Paris Motor Show showcased how the battery packs are integrated into electric vehicles. The collaboration marks ProLogium’s progression from producing EV components to developing battery modules and packs, underscoring the company’s substantial strides in commercialization.

“Over the past two years, our collaboration has resulted in customized battery packs and concept designs that not only meet but exceed regulatory standards and market demands,” said Dr. Thomas Hülshorst, Global Vice President of Electric Powertrain at FEV. “Due to the significantly increased energy density of the LLCB cell of 321 W·h/kg, the energy storage system can be designed to be smaller and lighter for a vehicle with a targeted driving range, thus reducing power and space requirements.”

 

Ceramic separator and ‘film-free’

At the Cambridge EnerTech’s August Solid-State Battery Summit in Chicago, Belov introduced its groundbreaking battery’s use of a ceramic separator to replace typical polymer film separator, i.e. a “film-free” design also known as a next-generation platform.

The ceramic separator is what enables batteries with higher energy density and fast charging capabilities. It facilitates a variety of applications and enables scalable mass production.

The ceramic separator creates a safer internal battery structure and reduces the interfacial resistance among solid electrolytes, active materials, and separators. Due to enhanced stability, this redefined structure opens the door to more advanced and diverse materials, unlocking greater potential for higher energy density and faster charging capabilities.

Coupled with this design, ProLogium may leverage its patented and other advanced materials, such as silicon composite materials, ultra-thin lithium metal, and lithium-free cathode to enhance ionic conductivity and material stability to enhance performance.

The compatibility also extends to various configurations, including all-solid-state and semi-solid-state batteries as well as a range of module and battery pack technologies such as BiPolar+.

“This technology will revolutionize energy usage across sectors, accelerating the global shift towards sustainable development,” said Belov.

In addition to EVs, ProLogium’s LCBs could deliver better solutions in sectors such as electric vertical takeoff and landing, aerospace, and maritime industries.

“This new architecture transcends the limits of its traditional counterpart, enabling us to explore, and adopt novel materials and battery configurations,” Belov added. “Not only that, but the new structure also helps optimize manufacturing processes and thus contribute to lower production costs.”

The next-generation platform also optimizes manufacturing processes. The four most time-consuming steps in battery production—polymer film placement, electrolyte injection, vacuum soaking, and degassing—can be significantly streamlined. The new platform allows ProLogium to bypass these steps entirely.

Batteries made with this new architecture require just 8 min of drying in a hot-flow dehydration process compared to the overnight drying required for conventional batteries. This not only speeds up production but also slashes the size of ProLogium’s dry rooms by more than 50%, substantially reducing capital expenditure and overall efficiency.

The new platform also facilitates the direct recycling of the electrode layers within the cell, simplifying the recycling process while reducing energy consumption and environmental pollution.