The technology operates across a wide temperature range of -40°C to 50°C, with capacity fade limited to under 10% versus room temperature performance. Recently, a team led by Academician Chen Zhongwei from the Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, conducted a field test of ultra-low-temperature lithium batteries in Mohe City, Heilongjiang Province, achieving a major technological breakthrough. Test results show that in an extreme cold environment of -34°C, lithium batteries without any external insulation maintained over 85% of their effective capacity after being left stationary for more than 8 hours. They successfully powered an industrial-grade drone to complete a long-endurance flight and multiple mission simulations. This also signifies that China’s independently developed battery technology can now support various types of equipment to achieve “plug-and-play” functionality in extremely low temperatures. Ultra-low-temperature battery field test under extreme cold in Mohe. It is reported that in March of last year, Chen Zhongwei’s team had already successfully developed an “ultra-low-temperature high-specific-energy lithium battery,” capable of ensuring stable power output within the range of -40°C to -50°C. This Mohe test represents further verification and optimization based on the prior technology, indicating that the technology is now ready for practical application. It should be added that traditional lithium batteries face severe challenges in low-temperature environments. Public data indicates that when the temperature drops to -20°C, the discharge capacity of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries is typically only 30%-50% of that at room temperature. Furthermore, charging times are significantly prolonged, internal resistance increases markedly, and in severe cases, the batteries may even fail to operate. These issues seriously restrict the application of lithium batteries in fields such as cold-region grid energy storage, polar scientific expeditions, and high-altitude rescue operations. Ultra-low-temperature battery field test under extreme cold in Mohe. The low-temperature test conducted by Chen Zhongwei’s team achieved breakthroughs in three core technologies. First, an innovative design of low-temperature-resistant electrolyte significantly reduces viscosity at low temperatures and maintains ion conduction efficiency through optimized electrolyte formulation. Second, the independent development of a quasi-solid-state functional separator improves the compatibility between the electrolyte and electrodes in low-temperature environments. Third, the integration of advanced AI battery management algorithms enables intelligent power management, allowing for precise control of the battery’s operating state. Zhang Meng, associate researcher and head of the team’s low-temperature battery technology, explained that this technology can adapt to a wide temperature range from -40°C to 50°C, with the range attenuation rate controlled to within 10% of that at room temperature, significantly enhancing the operational efficiency of equipment in extremely cold regions.
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