The University of Queensland (UQ) has announced that of a new version of the lithium-sulphur battery that can run electric vehicles is currently being developed.

Using innovative technology, researchers from the Joint Research and Development Centre based at UQ aim to produce a composite of sulphur and carbon, with an excellent stability and energy content to improve high-energy lithium-sulphur batteries.

UQ-based Project Leader Professor Ian Gentle said the technology had the potential to provide the high-energy density storage needed to increase the range of electric vehicles to several hundred kilometres, which would help overcome one of the major barriers to the acceptance of this technology. 

“While lithium-ion batteries are widely used in small electronic appliances, they can't provide the capacity needed for heavy energy users such as cars, which is at least three times greater than that currently available,” Professor Gentle said.

“The widespread use of zero-emission vehicles, when teamed with sustainable energy sources, is an important part of an environmentally-friendly energy strategy, and Baosteel is partnering with UQ to develop advanced materials and technologies that will contribute towards this goal.” 

Other potential applications of the research include back-up power for wind and solar power plants, and emergency power for disaster areas.