Bipolar plate cell design for a lithium air battery

The performance and cost of a bipolar plate cell design for a 40 kWh lithium-air battery was estimated and compared to USABC goals. A bipolar plate cell design for a lithium-air battery can meet the cell performance goals, provided certain cell design targets are met. In particular, the excess lithium should be <2×, the current density should be >40 mA cm−2, the cathode capacity should be >1650 mAh g−1 carbon, and the bipolar plate material density should be <5 g cm−3. Meeting the above targets, the specific and volumetric energy densities for the lithium-air cell were estimated at 640 Wh kg−1 and 600 Wh l−1, respectively; the specific and volumetric power densities were estimated at 1310 W kg−1 and 1220 W l−1, respectively. However, the system cost goal of $100 kWh−1 for electric vehicles was not met; the cost of a 40 kWh lithium-air battery system using a bipolar plate design was estimated at $238 kWh−1.

► We present an automotive Li-air battery cell design that meets USABC requirements.
► We provide current density, capacity, and material requirements for a viable cell.
► The current state of the art falls far short of automotive requirements.
► Guidance for future research into automotive Li-air batteries is presented.