Volkswagen-backed Forge Battery claims that its groundbreaking 21700 electric vehicle batteries can support fast charging of just 10 minutes, potentially accelerating the shift to electric mobility.
For context, Forge Battery is the commercial li-ion battery production subsidiary of US battery startup Forge Nano.
The “Gen. 1.1 Supercell”
Forge Battery’s 21700 battery cells, dubbed “Gen. 1.1 Supercell,” will serve as the company’s first commercial product.
Impressively, it offers a confirmed energy density of 300 Wh/kg. Thus, it enables longer driving ranges and higher efficiency than the previous 18650 battery standard.
The Gen. 1.1 Supercell employs a cathode made of lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide (NMC 811) and a composite anode made of silicon oxide (SiOx)-graphite, per the report. These elements enable this new battery cell to surpass the energy density targets of the United States Advanced Battery Consortium (USABC) while delivering a cost reduction of 20% per kWh.
Moreover, the Gen. 1.1 Supercell enables fast charging in just 10 minutes without compromising battery life.
This new battery cell innovation has already secured both UN 38.3 and UL 1642 certifications, which are apparently the highest safety standards for transportation.
“With higher silicon content in the anode and the ability to cycle at higher voltages, the Forge Battery Supercell is set to outcompete state-of-the-art Tier 1 suppliers globally.”
Barbara Hughes, VP of energy storage at Forge Nano
Forge Battery to deliver first battery cell samples this year
Forge Battery has started shipping the first prototypes of its 21700-format cylindrical li-ion battery cells featuring its innovative “Atomic Armor” surface technology to existing customers and potential partners, according to Interesting Engineering.
The company aims to deliver thousands of these cutting-edge cells to its current customers later this year, indicating several GWh/year of confirmed offtake.
Forge Battery disclosed that it has received letters of intent to acquire a total of 24 GWh per year since the announcement of its battery factory in North Carolina last November 2023.
“Forge Battery has received huge interest from new customers to test our made-in-America Supercells for their high-performance market needs. We look forward to meeting our current customer’s sampling commitments, while building additional growth in new market segments, with the shipment of our A-Sample prototype cells. These cells achieve a leap in all-around Li-ion performance thanks to our Atomic Armor technology.”
Paul Lichty, CEO of Forge Nano
Potential applications
Forge Battery claims that its Gen. 1.1 Supercell is suitable for a wide range of applications beyond road vehicles.
The company cited aviation, special electric vehicles, and the Department of Defense as potential areas of application for the Gen. 1.1 Supercell.
Forge Battery aims to finally initiate commercial production at its North Carolina gigafactory in 2026. Impressively, these cells consist of 90% US-supplied battery materials, enabling it to access government subsidies.
