Degussa Develops The Car Battery Of The Future

The car batteries of the future will have to be small, light, and considerably more powerful, says Düsseldorf-based Degussa AG. The company is developing novel materials for lithium-ion batteries that make possible a new generation of starter batteries weighing only 2.5 kg. The new batteries are now being used — under the demanding conditions of motorsport — in a Lotus-manufactured racing car.

“This is an extremely light and highly efficient battery,” says Klaus Hedrich, head of Degussa’s Automotive Industry Team. One of the most important aims in motorsport is to keep the racing cars as light as possible. In comparison with conventional starter batteries, which weigh between 15 and 20 kg, this design results in unprecedented low weight.