Why is the automotive industry excited about lithium-ion? Lithium-ion is the third lightest element and the lightest metal with properties unique in terms of energy and power density. The potential of lithium-ion is best illustrated by the evolution and development of the mobile phone industry. Remember the days of executives flashing their brick-sized cell phones? Over the years, the cell phone has been dramatically downsized in terms of size and cost, leading to its widespread adoption. The world is a different place as a result of this revolution in the mobile phone industry. All this would have been impossible without advances in lithium-ion battery technology. As batteries have become more efficient and capable of storing more energy, mobile devices have become dramatically smaller and more practical. Apply this principle to vehicles powered by similar lithium-ion battery technology, and the potential becomes apparent.

EnerDel and Enertech, Ener1’s lithium-ion battery subsidiaries, have spent years developing their technology to produce batteries that not only come in smaller, lighter formats, but can also provide twice the available power and energy density of the incumbent NiMH technology. The efficiency that stems from the power and energy density solutions of EnerDel’s lithium-ion chemistry will potentially enable a new generation of hybrid and electric vehicles that are more powerful and more energy efficient than ever before.

In addition to advances in its chemistry, EnerDel’s lithium-ion cells adopt a unique prismatic design (as opposed to the conventional cylindrical model) which allows for potentially higher energy density levels. The prismatic design also holds other advantages over existing technologies. For example, the larger surface area dissipates heat and increases the number of cooling options in the automobile, and its shape makes it easier to assemble into modules, which in turn cuts production time and increases production capacity. In short, with so many advantages and the first ever commercial application set for release in early 2009, lithium-ion is set to transform the automobile industry, echoing the trends realized in the cellular phone and consumer electronics industries over the past 20 years.