ARGONNE, Ill., June 3 (UPI) -- The Argonne National Laboratory and the BASF Corp. have agreed to mass produce and market Argonne's patented composite cathode technology materials.
The Department of Energy's national laboratory and BASF said they will market the materials to manufacturers of advanced lithium-ion batteries, with BASF, the world's largest chemical company, conducting further lithium-ion battery development at its facility in Beachwood, Ohio, near Cleveland. BASF also plans to build North America's largest cathode material production facilities in Elyria, Ohio, another Cleveland suburb.
"The patented cathode materials licensed to BASF are part of a large and diverse suite of lithium-ion battery inventions and patents developed at Argonne with funding from (the Energy Department's) Vehicle Technologies Program," officials said, adding the continued development will result in advanced batteries that are higher-performing, longer-lasting and safer when compared with existing technology.
"This licensing agreement has the potential to put the United States several steps closer to reaching President Obama's goal of having one million Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles on the road by 2015," said Argonne Director Eric Isaacs. "When federally-funded R&D is commercialized, it enhances our economic competitiveness, energy security and quality of life through innovations in science and technology."
