Gridtential to Supply Battery Technology to Camel Energy and Leading U.S. Automaker

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Gridtential Energy, the firm behind the of Silicon Joule bipole battery technology, has announced a product development agreement with car batteries manufacturer Camel Energy and a top-three U.S. automaker for the delivery of start/stop batteries for internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles.

The same technology architecture can be used for low-voltage batteries in electric vehicles and extended to support the 48V batteries most often used in mild-hybrid vehicles. The partnership positions Gridtential to capitalize on fast-growing demand in the automotive industry for a better alternative to standard 12V car batteries.

By replacing traditional lead plates with specially-formulated silicon hybrid bipoles, silicon hybrid batteries increase standard power density by three-fold, reduce weight by 30% or more, and have improved charge acceptance. Silicon hybrid batteries also can operate at higher temperatures and tolerate vibration better than traditional lead-based batteries.  Camel’s silicon hybrid batteries will have at least twice the lifespan of traditional 12V lead batteries.

Under the contract, Gridtential and Camel engineering teams will work closely to optimize the thin-plate cell design and manufacturing of batteries. They will also verify metrics of cycle life, energy density, battery efficiency and charge acceptance.

Zubo Zhang, President of Camel Energy, said “Along with our customers, we have been following the promise and advancements in bipole technology for many years. Gridtential’s technology readily scales, allowing us to offer a suite of bipole batteries for the transportation and other markets where Camel is dominant. This all works well with Camel’s interest to expand our localization in North America with major automotive customers.”

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Silicon Joule is a  battery technology that substitutes treated silicon wafers, like those found in solar panels, for conventional lead grids to create an advanced AGM lead battery. It claims to deliver increased power density and a deeper depth of discharge at a 75 percent lower levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) than conventional lead batteries.

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The Silicon Joule PowerPlate will improve the performance and efficiency of Camel batteries. The PowerPlate sits between thin battery cells and will be coated with Camel’s active material. Combined with a lightweight bipole design and a 99% recyclability rate for the lead inside, Camel’s batteries with Silicon Joule technology will be a much more sustainable and readily available alternative to lithium-ion batteries.

John Barton, Gridtential CEO, said, “There’s a growing recognition in the marketplace that innovative design and optimization of conventional active materials offers a safer alternative to lithium-ion with comparable performance and lower cost. We look forward to partnering with Camel and its automotive customers to hone the design, performance and manufacturing of these batteries as they build market share with industry redefining products.”