CSIRO's UltraBattery goes global

The CSIRO-invented UltraBattery is set to have a global impact on greenhouse gas emissions after Japan's Furukawa Battery Company, which has already begun production, and US manufacturer, East Penn, signed an international commercialisation and distribution agreement for the technology in late September.

It is not yet licensed in Australia for automotive applications but CSIRO is accepting expressions of interest for manufacture and distribution of the technology in this region.

The battery combines an enhanced-power negative electrode and a lead acid battery in a single unit, and has applications for low emissions transport, and renewable energy storage.

The exclusive sub-license agreement will see the UltraBattery distributed by East Penn to the automotive and motive power sector throughout North America, Mexico and Canada while Furukawa Battery Company will release the technology in Japan and Thailand within two years.

Previous tests show it has a life cycle that is at least four times longer and produces 50% more power than conventional energy storage systems. The technology is about 70% cheaper than the batteries currently used in hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs).

Director of the CSIRO Energy Transformed National Research Flagship Dr John Wright, is pleased to see an Australian-developed technology gain attention on a world stage.

“This technology could significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the transport sector, by lowering the cost of hybrid electric vehicles and increasing their uptake, meaning that we could be looking at success on both commercial and environmental fronts.

“The UltraBattery is a satisfying example of CSIRO innovation having international impact and reinforces the valuable link between quality research and commercial development.”

The technology also has applications for renewable energy storage from wind and solar. CSIRO is part of a technology start-up that will develop and commercialise battery-based storage solutions for these energy sources.

CSIRO initiated the National Research Flagships to provide science-based solutions in response to Australia's major research challenges and opportunities. The nine Flagships form multidisciplinary teams with industry and the research community to deliver impact and benefits for Australia.

More information: Dr John Wright, Energy Transformed Flagship Energy Transformed, 02 4960 6080; 0408 480 724; john.wright@csiro.au