HomeLatest FeedsTechnology NewsA dual battery can be the right direction for a longer range

A dual battery can be the right direction for a longer range


In addition, the technology requires fewer rare materials.

The Michigan startup Our Next Energy (ONE) came up with an interesting concept, with its Gemini 001 battery prototype managed to double the range of a Tesla Model S.

The company recently entered into a partnership agreement with BMW to develop so-called dual-chemistry batteries for the German brand’s premium electric SUV, the BMW iX. The special solution has several advantages, for example a range of nearly 1,000 kilometers is within reach.

ONE’s current Gemini battery has a capacity of 185 kilowatt hours, which the company promises allows for a range of 600 miles, or 960 kilometers.

ONE's special dual battery offers a solution for long- and short-distance trips and battery usage (Photo: ONE)
ONE’s special dual battery offers a solution for long- and short-distance trips and battery usage (Photo: ONE)

The battery has an energy density of 450 Wh/l, and the development company uses a special trick for its operation. The battery pack consists of two units, a smaller, lithium-iron phosphate battery and a larger, range-increasing battery.

The former promises a range of 240 kilometers, the latter 720 kilometers, and its operation is as follows: during daily, short-term use, only the smaller unit operates, while the larger one is activated when we go on a longer trip with the car.

ONE did not reveal the exact composition of the larger battery, but it did say that it is anode-free and contains a high percentage of raw materials that are found in large quantities in the USA. An example is manganese, which can be used to reduce the amount of nickel and graphite, and cobalt can be completely replaced. The latter is important because, on the one hand, cobalt is extremely expensive, and on the other hand, child labor is also used for its extraction, for example in the Congo. In addition, the world’s other major cobalt-processing country is China, which is bad news for American car manufacturers, as raw materials from the Far Eastern country are not subject to the provisions promoting the support of electric cars adopted by the Biden government.

According to the company, the energy density of anode-free battery cells reaches 1007 Wh/lt, which is almost double the industry average. Another advantage of anode-less batteries is that they are less prone to overheating. In addition, Mujeeb Ijaz, CEO of ONE, also expects the new battery technology to be significantly cheaper: according to his calculations, this means $50 per kilowatt-hour, while LFP technology costs $75 and NMC costs $115 per kilowatt-hour.

BMW i Ventures, the venture capital investment department of the German brand, supported the company’s development with 65 million dollars last year, while by February of this year they managed to collect another 300 million dollars in investment, which makes the value of the company more than one billion dollars.

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Mr.Mario
Mr.Mario
I am a tech enthusiast, cinema lover, and news follower. and i loved to be stay updated with the latest tech trends and developments. With a passion for cyber security, I continuously seeks new knowledge and enjoys learning new things.

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