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- Wright Electric and Columbia University receive U.S. Department of Energy award for ultra-lightweight battery development
Wright Electric and Columbia University receive U.S. Department of Energy award for ultra-lightweight battery development
Wright Electric in partnership with Columbia University, has been awarded a contract by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) Pioneering Railroad, Oceanic and Plane Electrification with 1K energy storage systems (PROPEL-1K) to work on developing an ultra-energy-dense aluminum battery and novel artificial intelligence electrolyte screening system.
Established in 2016, Wright Electric aims to reduce carbon emissions in the aerospace industry through the use of electric aircraft. The company collaborates with organizations such as NASA, Y Combinator, The U.S. Department of Energy Advanced Research Projects Agency—Energy, and the U.S. Department of Defense. Wright Electric recently reported that its 2 megawatt (MW) powertrain successfully underwent 43,000 ft of simulated altitude testing without partial discharge.
In October 2023, Wright Electric initiated its battery program following years of covert development. The company’s proprietary batteries are designed to be 4x more energy-dense than the lithium-ion batteries currently powering electric vehicles. These batteries could potentially enable the electrification of difficult-to-decarbonize transportation sectors, such as 100-passenger electric aircraft and container ships.
Wright’s Automated Experimentation with Radical Electrochemical Systems (AERES) technology employs a mix of systematic screening and open-source hardware to quickly screen electrolytes for these batteries. The company’s involvement in the PROPEL-1K program will further aid in the development of these batteries.
Jeff Engler, CEO at Wright Electric, said, “ARPA-E is continuing to catalyze entire new industries with the PROPEL-1K program. We are excited to work with Columbia University to push the boundaries of battery technology and to contribute to the advancement of sustainable energy solutions.” He added, “It is straightforward to construct an aluminum battery with household ingredients, but it is hard to make one that has the efficiency and high power output necessary for vehicles.”