Berlin based battery manufacturer Theion has secured €15 million in Series-A funding to support the development of its next-generation crystal sulphur batteries, which it says could weigh just one third of existing EV battery technologies.
Theion was founded in 2020, and its name is a transliteration of the Greek word for sulphur, θεῖον. It says it has developed a sustainable battery based on sulphur crystals which is both cost and energy efficient to manufacture, relying on sulphur, an industrial byproduct that eliminates the need for harmful mining for cathode materials.
Theion’s crystal sulphur battery delivers three-times higher energy density than conventional lithium-ion batteries at one-third the cost and one-third the carbon footprint.
Given that sulphur, the sixteenth-most abundant element on Earth, contains significantly more energy per weight compared to more conventional battery materials, batteries using sulphur will be three-times lighter compared to current lithium-ion batteries.
Utilising sulphur’s monoclinic gamma crystal structure and Theion’s proprietary and patented technology and processes, the company hopes to be able to increase the cycle life of sulphur-based batteries to make the technology viable for commercial applications.
Image Credit: Theion
Theion’s batteries are expected to be used in everything from air and land mobility to stationary storage and aerospace applications.
The new €15 million ($A26 million) in funding was led by Team Global and will be used to accelerate the development of Theion’s technology.
“Germany has a long-standing history of pioneering engineering and innovation,” Dr. Ulrich Ehmes, CEO of theion, said in a statement.
“We are designing our crystal sulfur battery to position Europe as a leader in sustainable energy storage. There is still a way to go but our technology shall enable CO2-neutral electric flights, extended EV range, and efficient stationary energy storage.”
Joshua S. Hill is a Melbourne-based journalist who has been writing about climate change, clean technology, and electric vehicles for over 15 years. He has been reporting on electric vehicles and clean technologies for Renew Economy and The Driven since 2012. His preferred mode of transport is his feet.