3M Will Receive Grants To Improve The Performance Of The Car Battery

Maplewood-based 3M Co. is responsible for the granting of up to $ 4.6 million it received this week for their lithium-ion automotive batteries.

The search company is related to the chemistry of the battery cells, and researchers aim to reduce the size of the car battery by 40 percent and reduce the cost by 25 percent.

"These are ambitious goals, but can not be achieved," said Chris milker, Senior Vice President, Division 3M makes the job of the battery.

Grant from the U.S. Department of Energy, the goal is to help vehicle manufacturers comply with fuel efficiency standards, requiring a fleet of cars and trucks to 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025. Trucks and buses will be required to reduce emissions by 20 percent by 2018.

3M scientists working on advanced materials that facilitate the flow of electrons through the battery. In consumer batteries, graphite is the material of the anode leads, said teat.

However, 3M is working with the chemistry of silicon anode and cathode technology that consists of a mixture of metal oxides. Silicon is less expensive than traditional materials and has a higher energy capacity, said nipple.

3M also is using the technology of silicon anode for consumptive uses, such as batteries for laptops. The company recently invested in a manufacturing plant in Cottage Grove, using this technology for consumer electronics, said nipple.

There are problems of 3M in the process, he said. While laptop batteries usually last about three years, automakers

Ad

want batteries that last Oct. 7 years. "There are still significant challenges to achieve this," said the milker. "I would agree, that if we did not think was possible."

The grant of $ 4.6 million will be spent over three years and involves new recruits, said nipple. The major research grant will be held on the campus of 3M in Maplewood.

The grant was one of 12 awarded by the Department of Energy to work on electric car batteries. A total of 175 million dollars was awarded to 40 projects across the country.

Welber John can be reached at 651-228-2175.