What is a zebra battery?

The ZEBRA battery is a type of rechargeable molten salt battery based on commonly available and low-cost materials – primarily nickel metal, the sodium and chloride from conventional table salt, as well beta-alumina solid electrolyte. It is technically known as the sodium–nickel–chloride battery, and sometimes as a sodium–metal–halide battery.

Are Zebra batteries suitable for electric vehicles?

Zebra batteries have several features that make them attractive for electric vehicle applications. Nickel chloride is preferred for these batteries, and Zebra batteries based on this cell reaction have been developed to the pilot-line production stage. The batteries can be assembled in the discharged state, eliminating the need to handle liquid sodium.

How many Zebra batteries can be produced a year?

A production capacity of 2000 battery packs (equivalent to 40 MW h) per year is established in the first phase. This has resulted in cost reductions that make life-cycle-cost of ZEBRA batteries less than those of lead-acid batteries.

What are Zebra batteries made of?

ZEBRA technology ZEBRA batteries use nickel powder and plain salt for the electrode material, the electrolyte and separator is β″-Al 2 O 3 -ceramic which is conductive for Na + ions but an insulator for electrons .

Can Zebra batteries improve pulse power?

Vehicle trials with the first sodium/nickel chloride ZEBRA batteries indicated that the pulse power capability of the battery needed to be improved towards the end of the discharge.

How much power does a zebra battery have?

In total, more than 2 million km has been travelled in ZEBRA powered vehicles. It became apparent that for the car application an improvement in power was desirable. A new cell was described recently which raised the pulse power of the battery to more than 150 W kg −1 throughout the discharge.