LBNL carried out diagnostic evaluations of high-power Li-ion cell materials as part of the DOE Advanced Technology Development (ATD) Program (http://www.transportation.anl.gov/batteries/phev_batteries.html) since its inception in 1999. The overall goal of the ATD Program was to help industrial developers of Li-ion batteries overcome key barriers that prevented the use of this promising technology in hybrid-electric vehicles (HEVs). A summary of the LBNL diagnostic techniques and the results of extensive characterization of ATD Program cell materials can be viewed at http://eande.lbl.gov/BERC/ATD/ATD.html
In October 2008 the ATD Program was completed, and the Advanced Battery Research for Transportation (ABR) Program was initiated. The goal the ABR Program is to assist industrial developers of high‐energy/high‐power Li‐ion batteries to meet a battery‐level specific energy goal of ~200 Wh/kg for plug-in hybrid-electric vehicle (PHEV) applications, while simultaneously meeting stringent cost, life, abuse tolerance, and low‐temperature performance goals. The LBNL role in the ABR Program was expanded beyond diagnostic evaluations to include development of new materials, studies of advanced technologies for cell overcharge protection, and testing of candidate BATT Program materials. LBNL research efforts in the ABR Program are coordinated by Frank McLarnon.
