Researchers at SINTEF and their European partners have unveiled a new intelligent electric‐vehicle battery designed to deliver high performance with reduced reliance on critical raw materials. Conducted under the four-year IntelLiGent project, the work aims to strengthen Europe’s self-sufficiency in lithium-ion cell production and promote more sustainable battery technology.
The IntelLiGent consortium, funded by Horizon Europe along with Swiss and UK research bodies, focused on optimizing every component of a generation-3b battery cell. A novel lithium-nickel-manganese oxide (LNMO) cathode was developed without cobalt and with lowered lithium and nickel content, while still achieving high energy density and operating voltage. For the anode, a silicon-graphite composite produced by Vianode combines silicon’s high storage capacity with graphite’s mechanical stability, offering extended cycle life and higher capacity.
To maintain electrode integrity, the team replaced traditional fluorinated binders with a water-soluble polymer that actively traps manganese and nickel ions released during cycling. This innovation prevents these ions from migrating to the anode, where they can trigger lithium plating and degrade battery life. Additionally, researchers formulated an electrolyte optimized to protect both electrodes at elevated voltages, reducing internal heat buildup and enhancing safety.
Advanced digital tools played a key role in the project, allowing scientists to simulate temperature profiles inside cells during discharge and refine materials and designs before scaling up. At the SINTEF Battery Lab in Trondheim, the team demonstrated industrial‐scale electrode production, rolling water-based LNMO cathodes into 100-meter lengths with uniform thickness and high material loading. More than 60 pouch cells, each rated at 15 Ah, were produced and tested for performance and longevity.
MILLOR BATTERY in Spain further validated the chemistry by integrating these cells into a full battery module, confirming the technology’s readiness for commercial battery packs. This achievement represents one of the first European examples of scaling up water‐based high-voltage cathodes and marks a milestone toward localized, sustainable EV battery manufacturing.
Source: Norwegian SciTech News
