Miramon Technological Park, Donostia, will host the state's first laboratory devoted entirely to research in batteries for electric cars, whose future

Miramon Technological Park, Donostia, will host the state's first laboratory devoted entirely to research in batteries for electric cars, whose future is getting brighter by the need to seek alternative energy sources to oil.

Cidetec-IK4 is the core promoter of this initiative several years studying materials and components for lithium ion batteries, in close collaboration with the company Cegasa, his main client and patron since its inception.

The planned investment amounts to over four million and will be held at the premises of the center itself, located in Miramon throughout 2010. "We will undertake the implementation of a laboratory battery up to the challenges facing this technology with the vision of establishing itself as a reference to the European level," said Soledad Larrocha, Director of Organization and People Cidetec -IK4.

One of the distinctive elements of this laboratory will be your dry room, where they develop and assemble prototype lithium ion cells, including the development, manufacturing and packaging of the electrodes.

Lithium ion technology is incompatible with the presence of water or even ambient moisture, hence the need to assemble the batteries in extreme dry conditions, then use them once hermetically sealed.

"Currently there are no facilities of its kind in the state, having not much more than half a dozen in Europe. Cidetec-IK4 to be one of the most advanced and comprehensive," says Larrocha.

The facilities will be complemented by laboratory characterization and testing of batteries in a different "climatic and environmental conditions, including analysis of the response of the batteries in extreme conditions of humidity and temperature, and all kinds of testing and standardization.

Larrocha emphasized that the technology of lithium ion batteries is that "the closer it is to be able to get to meet the requirements of autonomy, power, lightness and security, but will need improvements, especially in the price per kilowatt hour .

The importance of this laboratory is reflected in "all major automotive brands are positioning themselves to it either through the announcement of plans to market models fully or partially electric traction, either through collaboration with leading manufacturers battery, usually Asians. "

However, as explained Larrocha, "both for its technical limitations and by the remoteness of the incumbent, the batteries are being erected in the main challenge facing the manufacturers and users face a significant deployment of electric vehicle" .

Therefore, research and development in batteries, and in particular lithium ion technology, is "an inescapable bet for those who want to position themselves in this sector (companies, research institutes, governments).