Lonnie Johnson’s $75M Battery Bet: EVs That Go Twice As Far

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By Stephen Key, Forbes. 

Excerpt: Lonnie Johnson...After nearly three decades of self-funded, against-all-odds research, the Hall of Fame inventor and his team have delivered a game-changer: A true all-solid-state battery that is safer, more powerful, and cheaper than today’s standards—meaning it has the potential to transform energy storage for electric vehicles, renewable power, and more. ...“I’ve had this long-term interest in energy and awareness of the impact our use of fossil fuels has had on the environment,” he shared in an interview. That vision drove him to launch Johnson Energy Storage (JES) and chase a dream others deemed too daunting: A solid-state battery that’s safer, more powerful, and cheaper than what’s available today. ...Unlike other “solid-state” contenders that sneak in liquid electrolytes or rely on pricey, unstable materials, Dr. Johnson’s glass electrolyte delivers by boasting higher conductivity, suppressing dangerous shorts, and thriving across a wide temperature range—all while slashing production costs. “It’s all ceramic, glass, and metal materials,” he explained. “It’s not flammable, won’t burst open, and doesn’t need the cooling systems lithium-ion requires.” Picture an EV you can drive twice as far without charging, renewable energy grids that store power more efficiently, and consumer gadgets that don’t overheat. ...Preliminary results from having the batteries independently tested by UL have confirmed to Johnson and his team at JES that they are well on the technical path to producing a true all-solid-state battery..... 

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