Northvolt subsidiary Cuberg is making significant strides in the development of lithium metal batteries, particularly for aviation. Having previously published validated performance data in July 2022, Cuberg has now produced a 20 Ah lithium metal pouch cell in a commercial format with energy of 405 Wh/kg. Northvolt has also confirmed that Cuberg is embarking on developing a fully integrated high-performance battery system for aviation.
The aviation industry is searching for cleaner energy solutions and battery propulsion, but manufacturers have been limited by the weight and immaturity of aviation-certifiable lithium-ion battery systems. Cubergās new program will offer a certified battery system that enables enhanced aircraft performance and provides a trusted end-to-end solution.
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Cuberg’s technology is considered a breakthrough, with its cells delivering over 70% increased range and capacity compared to comparable lithium-ion cells designed for electric aviation applications. The company’s customers include Boeing, BETA Technologies, Ampaire and VoltAero.
Cuberg is a Stanford University spin-off, which has been working on next-generation battery technology since 2015. Its lithium metal module platform has achieved passive propagation resistance during a thermal runaway verification test campaign, a critical step in the certification of aviation battery systems.
Northvolt acquired Cuberg in March 2021, with the Swedes aiming to industrialize cells that exceed 1,000 Wh/L by 2025. In comparison, current vehicle batteries achieve 200 to 300 Wh/kg at best.
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CATL has also entered the zero-emission aviation market with its novel Condensed Battery technology, which claims an energy density of 500 Wh/kg at the cell level. Series production of the battery is set to begin this year.
Cuberg and Northvolt’s progress in the development of lithium metal batteries for aviation has the potential to revolutionize the aviation industry and help accelerate the shift towards cleaner energy solutions.
