Zebra Batteries

Characteristics

High power, high capacity cells suitable for electric traction applications.
High Temperature Battery operating at over 270°C
Sodium Nickel Chloride (NaNiCl) chemistry giving a nominal operation cell voltage of 2.58 Volts
 

Advantages

High energy density (5 times higher than Lead acid)
Large cells (up to 500Ah) possible
Cycle life better than 1000 cycles
Tolerant of short circuits
Safer than Sodium Sulfur cells
Typical cell failure is short circuit which does not cause complete failure of the battery.
Low cost materials

Shortcomings

Suitable for large capacity batteries only (> 20KWh)
Limited range of available sizes and capacities. (Large multi-cell blocks)
Only one factory in the world produces these batteries.
High internal resistance
Molten sodium electrode
High operating temperature.
Preheating needed to get battery up to the 270°C operating temperature. (Up to 24 hours from cold)
Uses 14% of its own capacity per day to maintain temperature when not in use.
Thermal management needed

Applications

Traction applications, EVs, HEV, and Railway

Costs

Expensive