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Solid-state batteries have the potential to make EVs far more affordable and practical, but their commercial development has a record of false promises that would make Tesla's full self-driving blush. That means reporting on them is tricky, but we're seeing some promising news from Imec, a well-established R&D giant based in Belgium. As part of its SOLiDIFY project, the EU-supported firm and its 13 partners have manufactured a prototype solid-state battery with a 1070 Wh/L energy density, nearly 25 percent higher than the best lithium-ion cells (800 Wh/L). Better still, it uses a manufacturing process that works at room temperature, is adaptable to current lithium-ion battery product lines and is projected to cost less than 150 euros (about $167) per kWh, compared to about $140/kWh for current batteries. "This process holds promise for affordable industrial transfer," Imec wrote in a press release. The breakthrough was something called "liquid-to-solid" solidification. That means the prototype's solid electrolyte uses a "doped polymerized ionic liquid" in a thin 50 micrometer layer. The electrolyte is flanked by a high-capacity composite cathode on one side and a thin lithium metal anode on the other, resulting in a compact battery cell stack. The consortium was able to boost the cell's charge rate to three hours and lifetime to 100 cycles, overcoming mechanical strength and cathode impregnation challenges. Use of cobalt was also reduced thanks to the application of nanometer-thin protective coatings. Clearly the charging times and number of cycles need to improve (modern li-ion car batteries can be charged 2000 times and some in well under an hour). In addition, the technology requires further upscaling to be practical on an industrial level. It's worth the effort, though, as solid-state batteries could eventually deliver improved energy density, lower charging times and better safety, all at a lower price. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/science/solid-state-battery-prototype-boosts-energy-density-by-nearly-25-percent-080057028.html?src=rss
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Marketing and Advertising
A new action group called The Dad Shift is going viral thanks to a stunt in central London. Activists attached slings holding baby dolls to bronze statues of famous men. Their goal? Improving the UK's paternity leave, which is the skimpiest in Europe: new fathers currently get two weeks of statutory leave, during which they're paid GBP 184.03 a week (less than half the minimum wage).The Dad Shift is campaigning for paternity leave that's both longer and more affordable, and not just for dads but parents in every relationship same-sex, heterosexual and adoptive. As explained in an open letter/petition to Prime Minister Keir Starmer: "One in three fathers take no leave at all when a new baby arrives, while one in two who do report struggling financially because of it. Proper parental leave for fathers and co-parents is good for mothers, good for babies, good for fathers and good for society, too, including improving health outcomes for all. Countries with 6 or more weeks paternity leave also have a gender pay gap that's 4% smaller and a workforce participation gap that is 3.7% smaller, too, meaning change can help grow the economy while helping British families."Like the garlands that flower delivery network Fleurop draped on women's statues in Germany earlier this year, The Dad Shift's stunt serves as a masterclass in low-budget, high-impact guerrilla marketing. By choosing public spaces and creating an unexpected juxtaposition stoic, dark statues wearing babies in colorful slings the group crafted a visually striking and highly shareable moment that gets the message across in an instant.
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Marketing and Advertising
Nintendo and The Pokémon Company have filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Pocketpair in Tokyo. Pocketpair is the Japanese video game developer behind Palworld, a game people have been describing as a Pokémon parody, featuring cute gun-toting monsters. The game, released in Early Access form on January 18, was an instant hit, selling 15 million copies on Steam and crossing 25 million players within just a month. The Pokémon Company said a few days after Palworld came out that it was going to investigate a game "released in January 2024" and will "take appropriate measures to address any acts that infringe on intellectual property rights related to Pokémon." Looks like the investigation is over, and it has decided to take legal action. "This lawsuit seeks an injunction against infringement and compensation for damages on the grounds that Palworld, a game developed and released by the Defendant, infringes multiple patent rights," Nintendo said in its announcement of the lawsuit. Pocketpair previously said that its game is more like Ark Survival Evolved and Vanaheim than Pokémon. Company CEO Takuro Mizobe claimed that Palworld "cleared legal reviews" and that no lawsuits were filed against Pocketpair regarding its development. While Palworld's monsters would look familiar to Pokémon fans, it takes on a darker tone. You can choose to play as a friend to the monsters known as "Pals" and fight off the poachers trying to kill them. But you can also kill and eat Pals, make them fight to the death and even sell them into slavery.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/nintendo-and-the-pokemon-company-are-suing-palworld-creator-pocketpair-031320550.html?src=rss
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Marketing and Advertising
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