Ford Motor Co. is the most recent company to invest in Solid Power, a CU Boulder spinoff based in Louisville, CO that develops solid-state batteries.

By replacing the two key components of traditional lithium-ion batteries – a liquid electrolyte and plastic separator – with a single ion-conducting material, the company’s solid-state batteries offer improved energy and safety. Today’s lithium-ion batteries require a bulk amount of devices to protect and cool them, whereas solid-state batteries can tolerate very high temperatures without the need for cooling.

Solid Power Co-founder and CEO Doug Campbell also expects their solid-state battery to generate 50 percent more energy than current lithium-ion batteries in the market.

This new business partnership will allow Solid Power to perfect its battery technology for next-generation electric vehicles and transition the company to its first stage of true production, said Campbell.

In addition to Ford Motor Co., Solid Power has also partnered with Samsung Venture, Hyundai, BMW Group and more within the past two years.

The technology behind the company originated in the CU Boulder mechanical engineering labs of Conrad Stoldt and Se-hee Lee, and was exclusively licensed through Venture Partners at CU Boulder.

"Doug and his team at Solid Power have established themselves not only as leaders within the solid state battery field, but in advancing the cleantech ecosystem across the state," said Brynmor Rees, associate vice chancellor of Research and Innovation and managing director of Venture Partners at CU Boulder. "Solid Power is yet another example of how federally funded research translates into economic impact and transformative innovation."

Visit Venture Partners at CU Boulder to learn more about CU Boulder inventions and related support, or learn more about Solid Power.