Lyten, a chemical producer based in the US, has commenced the shipment of lithium-sulfur test cells to its stakeholder Stellantis and various automotive original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in the US and EU for assessment.
In addition, the company has initiated the sending of samples to a significant provider of consumer electronics and to military organizations in the US. The goal is to distribute samples to over 20 potential clients in the second and third quarters of this calendar year.
The battery prototypes are being produced on Lyten’s semi-automatic pilot production line in San Jose, California, which was inaugurated in May 2023. The pilot plant was constructed using conventional lithium-ion machinery and manufacturing methods, indicating that manufacturers can transition their current facilities to produce lithium-sulfur models. This manufacturing facility can provide both A and B samples for automotive OEMs and fully operational cells for lower volume clients. Lyten is collaborating with Turner Construction and SSOE to design its inaugural gigawatt-scale factory for the production of automotive C samples and beyond.
Lyten fabricates lithium-sulfur cells in pouch and cylindrical configurations (2170 and 18650) and is presently distributing the 6.5 Ah pouch cell layout—featuring a 3 C discharge capacity at 25° C—for customer valuation. The company intends to dispatch cylindrical A samples for evaluation later in this year.
According to Lyten, lithium-sulfur battery technology has the potential to offer double the energy density of nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) batteries while maintaining competitive costs with lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries. By eliminating the necessity for nickel, manganese, cobalt, and graphite, it is anticipated to reduce the carbon footprint by at least 65% compared to lithium-ion batteries and establish a supply chain that can be readily sourced on a large scale within the US or EU.
“The global demand for a practical, widely accessible battery is significant, and that’s exactly what we’re constructing with our lithium-sulfur solution,” commented Celina Mikolajczak, Chief Battery Technology Officer at Lyten. “The mainstream shift to electric vehicles and the ambition for net zero targets demand batteries that are lighter, lower in cost, and possess higher energy density, which can be mass-produced with locally abundant resources.”
Source: Lyten
