FORT COLLINS, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Prieto Battery, Inc., a world leader in advanced lithium-ion battery technology, unveiled the most recent prototype of its patented 3D interdigitated battery that delivers groundbreaking performance:
- 3-minute hyper-fast charge
- Operates and charges in extremely low (-30 degrees C) and high (+100 degrees C) temperatures
- Nonflammable
All three attributes of Prieto’s lithium-ion battery were tested and validated by a third-party accredited battery testing lab.
Hyper-Fast Charge
“Prieto’s battery will charge faster than you can fill your car’s gas tank,” said Mike Rosenberg, Prieto CEO. “When you charge your car faster than gassing up, range is no longer a hindrance and everyone becomes a potential EV buyer.”
Due to its 3D architecture, Prieto’s battery fully charges in three minutes and achieves a 50% charge in 90 seconds, regardless of size.
“A three-minute charge fundamentally changes how companies can design their products and how consumers use them,” added Rosenberg.
All-Weather Extreme Temperature Operation
The Prieto 3D battery delivers the industry’s widest temperature operation. Not only does it operate at -30 degrees C (-22 degrees F), but it also charges at that temperature. The battery also operates and is safe at temperatures as high as +100 degrees C (212 degrees F).
“Prieto’s battery is the only battery that we are aware of that will not only operate, but will also charge at -30 degrees Celsius,” explained Rosenberg. “As we learned this past winter when extreme cold weather hit North America, many people were left stranded with dead EVs. Our battery would have allowed these EVs to continue to operate and charge, instilling confidence in drivers to rely on their EVs even in extreme temperatures.”
Nonflammable
Prieto’s 3D architecture and design ensure that the battery is not flammable or combustible. A third-party lab conducted the gold standard “nail penetration test” on Prieto’s battery that resulted in no fire or explosion, and the battery continued to operate.
“Prieto’s battery operates safely and will not catch fire like traditional lithium-ion batteries,” Rosenberg said. “The 3D architecture and the materials we use ensure that our batteries will not experience thermal runaways or fires, which gives consumers peace of mind.”
3D Interdigitated Technology
“Our founder, Dr. Amy Prieto, reimagined the entire architecture of a conventional battery and developed the first 3D interdigitated battery,” said Rosenberg. “We’re introducing a better architecture and a better process, which results in a better battery and a superior consumer experience. This is truly the next evolution that will redefine the way we power our lives.”
Prieto’s 3D architecture is completely different from all other batteries. Today’s batteries use a decades-old 2D architecture that must always compromise between energy storage and fast charging. In 2D batteries, energy can only flow in one direction across a two-dimensional plane. To charge, lithium ions must flow from one surface to the other, resulting in serious limitations. Thicker 2D batteries store more energy, but the long ion pathways result in slow charging. Thinner 2D batteries can charge faster but cannot store much energy.
“We’ve dramatically shortened the diffusion length in any direction, which takes charging to hyper-speed and delivers more power and energy storage than 2D batteries,” said Dr. Prieto, founder and chief technology officer of Prieto. “The core of our battery looks like a thin copper sponge, and the ions only have to travel from one strand to the next, a fraction of the distance in traditional 2D batteries.”
Prieto’s battery is designed to deliver five times the power density (20C discharge rate) and up to three times the energy density of conventional 2D batteries. It is customizable to any size or application, making it ideal for anything from electric vehicles to power tools, medical devices to mobile phones and small home appliances.
Simple, Cost-Effective Manufacturing
Prieto’s new battery boasts a unique manufacturing advantage because it is made from low-cost, sustainable materials with a simple and scalable process. Prieto uses a proven water-based electroplating process at room temperature and its process requires no dry rooms, clean rooms, or other expensive equipment.
“From day one I prioritized manufacturing ahead of the battery design, and I knew to reimagine the battery we would first have to simplify production to scale up quickly, efficiently, and affordably,” said Dr. Prieto.
Prieto’s current laboratory manufacturing yield rates are more than 90%.
“We now turn our focus to commercialization as we finalize plans to build our pilot manufacturing facility,” said Rosenberg. “Our high yield rates, combined with our simple and familiar manufacturing process used in many other industries, will ultimately result in much lower costs than traditional lithium-ion batteries and gives us a great degree of confidence.”
Prieto is currently in discussions for manufacturing and applications with potential partners.
About Prieto
Prieto developed a proprietary 3D interdigitated lithium-ion battery that delivers transformational performance, such as hyper-fast charging, wide temperature operations and is safe, at a competitive cost. Its battery is customizable to all shapes and sizes for use in electric vehicles, consumer electronics and commercial equipment. Prieto also patented a unique electroplating manufacturing process that uses non-toxic materials without the need for highly specialized facilities. The company was founded in 2009. Prieto’s lab and headquarters are in Fort Collins, Colorado. Visit prietobattery.com.
About Dr. Amy Prieto
Dr. Prieto is the founder and chief technology officer at Prieto. She earned her doctorate in Chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley, and completed her postdoctoral work at Harvard University. She received the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers for this battery technology and is recognized by the Smithsonian Institution, where her innovation is on display in its museum in Washington, D.C.
