AI helps discover new battery tech that needs far less lithium

Massive amounts of the world's finite resources of lithium are being used in batteries for cars, smartphones and computers. A new discovery could help drastically reduce the amount of material that is needed. — Photo: Jan Woitas/dpa

WASHINGTON: A US Department of Energy research facility is working with Microsoft on a project that could reduce the amount of lithium needed in rechargeable batteries by up to 70%.

The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) and Microsoft made a joint announcement in Richland and Redmond in the US state of Washington on Tuesday that they already has real, functioning battery prototype that can power a light bulb with less lithium.