Farasis Energy has its headquarters in Hayword, California, with its production facilities in Ganzhou and Zhenjiang (China). The company, which was founded back in 2002 and has clients like Mercedes-Benz, recently achieved a breakthrough with battery cells designed to last a remarkable one million miles over 15 years. An achievement like this could propel Farasis Energy ahead in the race for ultra-durable batteries. The best part is, these cells are currently being mass-produced for high-end passenger cars such as Voyah, as well as for commercial vehicles and other long-life applications.
Reaching a million miles requires simulating thousands of charging cycles, a process that takes 2-3 years under accelerated testing. Farasis carefully evaluated their NCM chemistry (NCM stands for Nickel, Cobalt, and Manganese, a type of highly-preferred battery chemistry/combination) P75 and P73 cells, analyzing both aging factors. This extensive testing, ongoing since 2018, lets them to project that battery packs using these cells will retain over 70% capacity after a million miles.
Farasis went beyond standard testing. Battery degradation depends on real-world factors like temperature and charging speeds, and they claim that their testing process involved demanding scenarios, including fast charging and high depth of discharge, at temperatures reflecting key markets.
Farasis credits this longevity to innovative materials and charging strategies. They utilize separators with a semi-solid gel, optimizing ion ba and stability while reducing electrolyte volume. The materials and interface between the electrode and electrolyte are optimized for superior performance. Their charging strategy minimizes heat generation and lithium plating, and that mitigates capacity loss.
These battery packs offer not only extended life but also high energy density and fast charging. Currently, they're used in high-end passenger cars and commercial vehicles, providing a significant range boost for heavy-duty trucks compared to traditional batteries. Farasis has also developed unique packaging with features like directional exhaust and phase change materials to prioritize safety.
While rare for consumer vehicles, commercial vehicles often surpass 200,000 miles pretty easily (this Tesla Model S battery that underwent replacement at 416,000 miles is an exception). A fleet of electric commercial vehicles could offer substantial financial and environmental benefits due to lower operating costs. Farasis' long-lasting battery packs have a ton of potential for both commercial vehicle operators and the environment, more so considering that the tech is not on paper - it's on the conveyor and in the real world. Interestingly, the tech has also garnered interest in the eVTOL (electric Vertical Take-Off and Landing) market.