German team creates fire-proof EV battery with 600 Wh/kg energy density

Researchers at Germany’s Fraunhofer Institute for Material and Beam Technology IWS in Dresden have developed a novel solid-state lithium-sulfur (Li-S) battery with an energy density exceeding 600 Wh/kg. This advancement addresses key challenges of traditional Li-S batteries, such as the formation of soluble polysulfides that degrade performance, by replacing most liquid electrolytes with solid materials. The resulting battery is lighter, safer, more stable, and more energy-dense than conventional lithium-ion cells. The development is part of two projects: AnSiLiS, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space, focusing on core chemistry and cell design, and TALISSMAN, supported by the EU’s Horizon Europe program, which targets scalability and industrial feasibility. The battery design incorporates a sulfur-carbon composite cathode, a thin lithium-metal anode, and a hybrid electrolyte, aiming for energy densities up to 550 Wh/kg in scalable production with costs below €75 per kWh. The