Ilika is moving its Goliath solid-state battery technology closer to commercial use, with automotive testing progressing alongside opportunities in markets that can adopt new battery technologies more quickly.
Goliath is designed around solid-state battery architecture, replacing the liquid electrolyte used in conventional lithium-ion cells with solid materials. The aim is to improve safety and energy density while reducing some of the additional weight associated with battery protection and thermal management systems.
Conventional lithium-ion batteries require cooling systems, battery management electronics and structural protection to control risks such as thermal runaway. Those systems add weight to the battery pack. A safer cell design could reduce some of that burden and give vehicle manufacturers more flexibility to improve range, power or overall vehicle efficiency.
Solid-state technology can also support battery materials that are difficult to use in conventional lithium-ion cells. These include lithium or high-silicon-content anodes, high-voltage cathodes and anode-free designs. If successfully commercialised, these approaches could increase the amount of energy stored within a given battery weight or volume.
Liquid electrolytes naturally maintain contact with battery electrodes, while solid materials require more precise engineering to achieve the required conductivity and cell performance. Developers must therefore prove not only that the chemistry works, but that it can be manufactured reliably and at scale.
Ilika is now working with A-samples and early prototypes that are being assessed by battery pack designers and automotive manufacturers. This places Goliath within the validation stage needed before vehicle makers can consider integration into future platforms.
The company is also using industry-relevant pilot equipment to demonstrate that the technology can move beyond laboratory development. Manufacturing processes, material availability and production repeatability will be central to determining whether Goliath can progress towards larger-scale commercial adoption.
Ilika plc (LON:IKA) is a pioneer in solid state battery technology enabling solutions for applications in Industrial IoT, MedTech, Electric Vehicles and Consumer Electronics.
