Photo: Dalhousie University

Faculty of Science researchers Jeff Dahn, Chongyin Yang, and Michael Metzger received a $3.1 million grant from Tesla and $2.9 million in additional funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) to help develop advanced batteries for electric vehicles and grid energy storage.

The grant, totaling $6 million, is the largest Dalhousie University ever received. It was obtained by researchers who truly excelled in their work. For nearly 40 years, Dr. Dahn, the NSERC/Tesla Industrial Research Chair and Canada Research Chair in Materials Science and Technology, has been at the forefront of research and innovation in battery technology. His work has made a practical and fundamental contribution to the development of the batteries that power phones, computers, and electric vehicles today.

Dahn's lab at Dalhousie University has long been working closely with Tesla, and in mid-January 2021, the manufacturer of electric vehicles and energy storage systems renewed its partnership for a second five-year term. The lab’s research is critical to achieving battery cost savings that are key to making EVs affordable for everyone.

Here are the main objectives of the project funded by NSERC and Tesla:

• Lowering the cost of batteries for electric vehicles and electrical energy storage applications
• Increasing the lifetime of batteries for electric vehicles and electrical energy storage applications
• Increasing the energy density of batteries for electric vehicles and electrical energy storage applications
• Maintaining and improving the safety of batteries for electric vehicles and electrical energy storage applications
• Increasing the content of sustainable materials in the batteries

Achieving all of these goals will make electric vehicles and energy storage systems more affordable and extend their lifespan.

“I am very grateful for this funding from NSERC and Tesla,” says Dr. Dahn. “This will allow Chongyin, Michael and I to solve many remaining puzzles that will help improve battery lifetime and lower cost. The students trained in this program are finding, and will continue to find, immediate employment in the advanced battery sector locally and around the world. Tesla is a wonderful partner and a world leader in electric vehicle, solar and electrical energy storage products. We share their commitment to help combat climate change through electrified transportation and renewable energy generation and storage."

Tesla also expressed its appreciation of the talents of Dr. Dahn and his team.
“We are thrilled for our work with Dalhousie, Dr. Jeff Dahn, Dr. Chongyin Yang and Dr. Michael Metzger. We are excited and look forward to their important contributions in battery technology to help achieve our mission.”

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