Great Wall Motor's spin-off company, Svolt Energy Technology Co, has unveiled two new electric vehicle batteries, which it claims could change the entire EV landscape. The new batteries are the world's first commercial EV batteries that are completely cobalt-free.
Svolt's latest products are the latest development in the global new energy sector, one that aims to reduce the industry's dependence on expensive and rare materials. Unlike other types of materials, the availability of cobalt is limited, with global reserves estimated to only be around 7 million metric tons. The majority of the global cobalt supply is sourced from the Democratic Republic of Congo and it is one of the most expensive parts of standard electric batteries.
If electric vehicles are to replace traditional vehicles, modern EVs should not rely on rare materials. Svolt's president, Yang Hongxin, believes that the future of EVs should definitely be cobalt-free. He added that without the adoption of cobalt-free technologies and the establishment of an efficient recycling system, cobalt could be in short supply by as early as 2026.
Svolt stated that it expects its new cobalt-free batteries to go into mass production by next year. Apart from the cost-savings, the company claims that its new batteries will have several advantages over traditional cobalt-based EV batteries. Svolt claims that its batteries will have a much longer life cycle, while also offering higher energy densities compared to existing batteries.
One of the batteries, called the L6 long cell battery, will reportedly be used in future models produced by Great Wall Motors. Vehicles fitted with the new battery are expected to have a driving range of as much as 880 kilometers on a single charge, making them equal to most internal combustion vehicles in terms of range on a single tank.
Through the use of new nano-coating and single-crystalline cathode technologies, Svolt claims that its batteries offer a maximum energy density of around 240 watt-hours per kilogram. Through the use of its proprietary battery cell stacking techniques, Svolt claims that its batteries offer a 5 percent increase in energy density and a 10 percent increase in its life cycle when compared to common "jellyroll" stacked batteries.
The company's second battery type utilizes the same technologies but comes in a much smaller package. The battery is expected to give vehicles a range of up to 600 kilometers on a single charge, with the company claims that its form factor should be compatible with most EV platforms.
When the batteries become commercially available, Svolt stated that it is confident enough in the quality of its products that it will be willing to give customers a 1.2 million kilometer or 15-year warranty.
