Electric Vehicles
The transition from gas- to battery-driven transportation will significantly enhance the economic and energy security of the U.S. freeing the nation from reliance on foreign petroleum imports and reducing CO2 emissions. In parallel with the electrification of the vehicle installed base, further reductions in GHG emissions will be achieved over time as the electrical grid is transformed and cleaner and more renewable fuel and electric power sources are brought on line.
Battery technology is the gating factor to EV adoption. Today's electric vehicles still have very limited range and the battery accounts for more than 30% of the weight of the vehicle. Amprius anodes can push the energy density of batteries to more than 2X (450 Wh/kg) that of the best available cells today. This breakthrough can push EV's to mainstream adoption, and enable the electrification of our vehicle fleet.
Consumer Electronics
Cell phones, PDAs, and laptops all need smaller, more powerful batteries. The 2-hour runtime on a laptop, or 1-day practical usability of an iPhone, are all examples of the limited energy capacity of today's Li-ion batteries. Further increased data rates, video functionality, etc. will only increase the demands placed on the battery.
Increased energy density is the key to solving this problem. Furthermore, battery costs are of far less a concern. All batteries in today's cell phones or PDAs cost under $5. Who wouldn't be willing to pay $10 more if the battery would last twice as long?