CALEB Technology and California Lithium Battery (CalBattery) have agreed to establish a joint venture to produce a new line of high-performance lithium-ion batteries, which will be manufactured in the Los Angeles area starting in 2016.

The first generation of batteries will be aimed at the consumer electronics market, but the second generation will also be suitable for EV and energy storage applications. It will incorporate CalBattery’s novel silicon-graphene (SiGr) composite anode material that triples the anode’s specific capacity (the subject of a Charged feature article in January), as well as a dual-phase polymer electrolyte material and process developed by CALEB, which has shown to increase safety and improve energy density.

In the next 2-3 years the JV plans to develop and produce a third-generation lithium-sulfur battery primarily for EV and energy storage applications.

“We are confident with our combined superior battery materials and manufacturing knowhow that we can produce one of the world’s highest energy density LIBs right here in California,” said CALEB Technology President Thomas Lin.

“Our new line of LIBs will incorporate the best blend of cathode, electrolyte, and anode materials to produce a superior product at a very competitive price per kilowatt hour. Today we might not be planning on building a gigawatt LIB factory but that may change overnight with one big order,” said CalBattery CEO Phil Roberts.

Source: CALEB Technology, CalBattery, Green Car Congress