A123Systems, NREL join on battery research

The U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory announced that it has teamed up with Watertown, Mass.-based A123Systems to develop safe, less expensive, more powerful, and longer lasting batteries for hybrid-electric vehicles.

The laboratory said it signed a three year, cooperative research and development agreement with the battery maker to look at improving thermal management in advanced transportation batteries.

"We're pleased to be working with A123Systems on thermal management of their advanced nanophosphate-based lithium ion batteries," said Ahmad Pesaran, principal engineer at NREL.

"Batteries with improved thermal behavior are critical for widespread acceptance of affordable hybrid-electric vehicles that consume less fuel and reduced harmful emissions."

NREL said by better understanding the thermal behavior of advanced batteries, its researchers would help A123Systems engineers design improved thermal management systems and to optimize the design of the battery cell and develop a battery pack that's lighter, cheaper and more durable.

"NREL's expertise and state of the art thermal laboratories are an important national asset and we look forward to continue our collaboration with them to further advance the state of the art of automotive class lithium ion batteries," said Bart Riley, chief technology officer of A123Systems.

In March, Fairfield, Conn.-based General Electric (NYSE: GE) invested more than $20 million into A123Systems, as well as $4 million into Norwegian electric car maker Think Global, which signed a supply agreement with A123Systems (see GE invests $24M in electric car technology).

A123Systems is also developing high power lithium ion batteries with nanophosphate cathodes under a contract with the U.S Advanced Battery Consortium and the FreedomCAR and Fuel Partnership.