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PolyPlus CEO Steven Visco to Participate in Department of Energy Roundtable Focused on Strengthening U.S. Competitiveness in Advanced Clean Energy Manufacturing
[August 08, 2012]

PolyPlus CEO Steven Visco to Participate in Department of Energy Roundtable Focused on Strengthening U.S. Competitiveness in Advanced Clean Energy Manufacturing


BERKELEY, Calif. --(Business Wire)--

PolyPlus, a developer of high-energy lithium batteries, today announced CEO Steven Visco will join other CEOs, research experts and government officials Thursday, August 9, at a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) sponsored White House event to discuss strengthening U.S. competitiveness in advanced clean energy manufacturing.

Hosted by Dr. David Danielson, DOE Assistant Secretary for energy efficiency and renewable energy, the roundtable will examine the new report from the Advanced Manufacturing Partnership Steering Committee of the President's Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST). Report recommendations include: establish a national advanced manufacturing strategy; increase R&D funding in top, cross-cutting technologies; and establish a national network of manufacturing innovation institutes.

A recent winner of an $8.99 million Innovative Manufacturing Technologies Program award from the DOE, PolyPlus is working with Corning (News - Alert) and Johnson Controls to complete development of its Protected Lithium Electrode (PLETM), the critical component in its high-energy density lithium-water, lithium-sulfur and lithium-air batteries. PolyPlus was one of only 13 companies to be selected by the DOE out of a pool of approximately 1,500 companies, and the $8.99 million was one of the largest awars.



Companies participating with PolyPlus include, GE Energy, Dow Chemical, DuPont, Ford, Cree Lighting, Air Products (News - Alert) and Chemicals, Third Wave Systems, FuelCell Energy, Sheetak, Fluidic Energy, Campbell Applied Physics, and EnerGY2.

"It's a great honor to take part in this event focused on the United States winning the global race for advanced clean energy manufacturing," said Visco. "This public-private manufacturing partnership is critical in helping American companies meet the numerous challenges to fend off global competitors in advanced clean energy manufacturing, which includes solar and wind to energy storage, vehicles, lighting, the smart grid and fuel cells."


The PolyPlus lithium-water battery has achieved the highest energy density ever recorded at 1,300 Wh/kg, many times more than the maximum delivered by current lithium-ion batteries. The battery boasts an extremely long lifetime, making it ideal for such applications as underwater robots or unmanned, underwater vehicles. The company is currently testing samples of the battery, expects the product to be commercially available in 2013.

PolyPlus is developing a lithium-air rechargeable battery with exceptional energy density, which is advantageous for products such as portable electronics. Its rechargeable lithium air batteries also hold the promise of achieving the "holy grail" for electric vehicles - 500 miles per charge. The company is also working on a new generation of lithium-sulfur batteries aimed at the electric vehicle space.

About PolyPlus

PolyPlus Battery Company is the developer of advanced lithium battery products. The inventor of advanced lithium-sulfur batteries, the company is also creating lithium-water and lithium-air batteries that will deliver performance levels unachievable today. PolyPlus has an extensive patent portfolio covering key aspects of its technology including lithium-sulfur batteries, protected lithium electrodes (PLEs), lithium-air, and aqueous-lithium batteries. The company's technology was named one of Time Magazine's 50 best inventions of 2011, and won a 2012 Gold Edison Award.


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