I thought I’d start with just a few words about myself I’m from the
words about myself I’m from the
words about myself I’m from the Lunenburg area and I came to Dalhousie
Lunenburg area and I came to Dalhousie
Lunenburg area and I came to Dalhousie to do my bachelor’s degree then I went
to do my bachelor’s degree then I went
to do my bachelor’s degree then I went to UBC to do my graduate work at
to UBC to do my graduate work at
to UBC to do my graduate work at University of British Columbia and I
University of British Columbia and I
University of British Columbia and I focused on materials that could have
focused on materials that could have
focused on materials that could have application and advanced batteries at
application and advanced batteries at
application and advanced batteries at that time lithium batteries and then
that time lithium batteries and then
that time lithium batteries and then later on lithium ion batteries and I
later on lithium ion batteries and I
later on lithium ion batteries and I hadn’t been involved since 1978 in this
hadn’t been involved since 1978 in this
hadn’t been involved since 1978 in this whole process and I’ve watched the
whole process and I’ve watched the
whole process and I’ve watched the lithium ion battery go from an idea to a
lithium ion battery go from an idea to a
lithium ion battery go from an idea to a reality and without the lithium ion
reality and without the lithium ion
reality and without the lithium ion battery you wouldn’t have smartphones
battery you wouldn’t have smartphones
battery you wouldn’t have smartphones you wouldn’t have tablets and you
you wouldn’t have tablets and you
you wouldn’t have tablets and you wouldn’t have electric vehicles coming
wouldn’t have electric vehicles coming
wouldn’t have electric vehicles coming along and if you read the the bio of me
along and if you read the the bio of me
along and if you read the the bio of me in the in the program you’ll learn that
in the in the program you’ll learn that
in the in the program you’ll learn that I’ve been a co-inventor on a lot of
I’ve been a co-inventor on a lot of
I’ve been a co-inventor on a lot of different patents and patents are funny
different patents and patents are funny
different patents and patents are funny things I think one out of a hundred
things I think one out of a hundred
things I think one out of a hundred patents actually has value the rest of
patents actually has value the rest of
patents actually has value the rest of them are just junk but one of the
them are just junk but one of the
them are just junk but one of the patents that we worked on in the year
patents that we worked on in the year
patents that we worked on in the year 2000 a postdoc zhang hua lu and i
2000 a postdoc zhang hua lu and i
2000 a postdoc zhang hua lu and i invented a class of materials called NM
invented a class of materials called NM
invented a class of materials called NM c and NM c stands for lithium nickel
c and NM c stands for lithium nickel
c and NM c stands for lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxide and it’s now used
manganese cobalt oxide and it’s now used
manganese cobalt oxide and it’s now used is a positive electrode material in
is a positive electrode material in
is a positive electrode material in lithium ion batteries at a rate of about
lithium ion batteries at a rate of about
lithium ion batteries at a rate of about 6,000 metric tons per year so invented
6,000 metric tons per year so invented
6,000 metric tons per year so invented at Dalhousie University and that means
at Dalhousie University and that means
at Dalhousie University and that means about one in ten lithium ion cells has
about one in ten lithium ion cells has
about one in ten lithium ion cells has material invented here within it so I’m
material invented here within it so I’m
material invented here within it so I’m very proud of that
very proud of that
very proud of that okay so onto the main topic of the talk
okay so onto the main topic of the talk
okay so onto the main topic of the talk you know I’m showing you the picture of
you know I’m showing you the picture of
you know I’m showing you the picture of the Tesla Model S here it’s an awesome
the Tesla Model S here it’s an awesome
the Tesla Model S here it’s an awesome electric car powered by lithium ion
electric car powered by lithium ion
electric car powered by lithium ion batteries was motor trends Car the year
batteries was motor trends Car the year
batteries was motor trends Car the year in 2013
in 2013
in 2013 it has a driving range of 425 kilometers
it has a driving range of 425 kilometers
it has a driving range of 425 kilometers before it needs to be charged and it
before it needs to be charged and it
before it needs to be charged and it really is the first electric vehicle
really is the first electric vehicle
really is the first electric vehicle ever produced to show that electric
ever produced to show that electric
ever produced to show that electric vehicles could be functional and green
vehicles could be functional and green
vehicles could be functional and green and yet amazingly cool and awesome of
and yet amazingly cool and awesome of
and yet amazingly cool and awesome of course we need electrified
course we need electrified
course we need electrified transportation because we can’t keep
transportation because we can’t keep
transportation because we can’t keep burning fossil fuels if we do global
burning fossil fuels if we do global
burning fossil fuels if we do global warming is going to get more and more
warming is going to get more and more
warming is going to get more and more out of control and that’s really really
out of control and that’s really really
out of control and that’s really really bad so Tesla now is coming out in 2017
bad so Tesla now is coming out in 2017
bad so Tesla now is coming out in 2017 with what they call the model 3
with what they call the model 3
with what they call the model 3 and the model 3 is meant to be an
and the model 3 is meant to be an
and the model 3 is meant to be an affordable electric vehicle for the
affordable electric vehicle for the
affordable electric vehicle for the masses nobody knows what the model 3 is
masses nobody knows what the model 3 is
masses nobody knows what the model 3 is going to look like yet or what its
going to look like yet or what its
going to look like yet or what its specifications really are but on March
specifications really are but on March
specifications really are but on March 31 Tesla will unveil the model 3 in Palo
31 Tesla will unveil the model 3 in Palo
31 Tesla will unveil the model 3 in Palo Alto California and we’ll be able to see
Alto California and we’ll be able to see
Alto California and we’ll be able to see what it looks like and how far it will
what it looks like and how far it will
what it looks like and how far it will go on a charge but Tesla’s very
go on a charge but Tesla’s very
go on a charge but Tesla’s very optimistic about the future of the model
optimistic about the future of the model
optimistic about the future of the model 3 and also its other electric vehicles
3 and also its other electric vehicles
3 and also its other electric vehicles and to meet the demand that they see
and to meet the demand that they see
and to meet the demand that they see coming in 2014 they started constructing
coming in 2014 they started constructing
coming in 2014 they started constructing this factory called the Giga factory the
this factory called the Giga factory the
this factory called the Giga factory the Giga factory is located outside Reno to
Giga factory is located outside Reno to
Giga factory is located outside Reno to Nevada and this is a photograph taken in
Nevada and this is a photograph taken in
Nevada and this is a photograph taken in the construction phase it turns out to
the construction phase it turns out to
the construction phase it turns out to be the building with the largest square
be the building with the largest square
be the building with the largest square area footprint on the planet its massive
area footprint on the planet its massive
area footprint on the planet its massive thing and if you look at the rooftop
thing and if you look at the rooftop
thing and if you look at the rooftop there you’ll see it’s very shiny and
there you’ll see it’s very shiny and
there you’ll see it’s very shiny and that’s because there’s solar panels on
that’s because there’s solar panels on
that’s because there’s solar panels on the roof the entire factory is powered
the roof the entire factory is powered
the roof the entire factory is powered by renewables which really shows Tesla’s
by renewables which really shows Tesla’s
by renewables which really shows Tesla’s commitment to renewable energy and
commitment to renewable energy and
commitment to renewable energy and electrified transportation this factory
electrified transportation this factory
electrified transportation this factory will produce enough lithium-ion
will produce enough lithium-ion
will produce enough lithium-ion batteries for 400,000 electric vehicles
batteries for 400,000 electric vehicles
batteries for 400,000 electric vehicles per year and the way that lithium-ion
per year and the way that lithium-ion
per year and the way that lithium-ion battery production is measured
battery production is measured
battery production is measured is in gigawatt hours of lithium-ion
is in gigawatt hours of lithium-ion
is in gigawatt hours of lithium-ion cells per year so what does that mean if
cells per year so what does that mean if
cells per year so what does that mean if you took all the lithium-ion cells the
you took all the lithium-ion cells the
you took all the lithium-ion cells the factory produced in one year and charge
factory produced in one year and charge
factory produced in one year and charge them they would store 35 gigawatt hours
them they would store 35 gigawatt hours
them they would store 35 gigawatt hours of electrical energy to put that into
of electrical energy to put that into
of electrical energy to put that into perspective in 2015
perspective in 2015
perspective in 2015 every lithium-ion cell produced on the
every lithium-ion cell produced on the
every lithium-ion cell produced on the planet by all the producers in the
planet by all the producers in the
planet by all the producers in the entire world represented a production of
entire world represented a production of
entire world represented a production of 35 gigawatt hours of lithium-ion cells
35 gigawatt hours of lithium-ion cells
35 gigawatt hours of lithium-ion cells so the gigafactory will double
so the gigafactory will double
so the gigafactory will double lithium-ion cell production at the
lithium-ion cell production at the
lithium-ion cell production at the moment pretty much all lithium-ion
moment pretty much all lithium-ion
moment pretty much all lithium-ion batteries are made in Asia Korea Japan
batteries are made in Asia Korea Japan
batteries are made in Asia Korea Japan China
China
China so this Giga factory coming to North
so this Giga factory coming to North
so this Giga factory coming to North America and doubling world production is
America and doubling world production is
America and doubling world production is a huge deal and for me involved with the
a huge deal and for me involved with the
a huge deal and for me involved with the lithium-ion business from the beginning
lithium-ion business from the beginning
lithium-ion business from the beginning I just said you know listen somehow I
I just said you know listen somehow I
I just said you know listen somehow I got to be a part of this you know
got to be a part of this you know
got to be a part of this you know because having this manufacturing
because having this manufacturing
because having this manufacturing capability in North America means a lot
so I traveled to Tesla in the summer of
so I traveled to Tesla in the summer of 2014 and I met with their battery group
2014 and I met with their battery group
2014 and I met with their battery group there and I talked about you know how
there and I talked about you know how
there and I talked about you know how about we try to set up a research
about we try to set up a research
about we try to set up a research partnership where we can bring our
partnership where we can bring our
partnership where we can bring our talents to your to your problems and
talents to your to your problems and
talents to your to your problems and maybe we can help improve the
maybe we can help improve the
maybe we can help improve the lithium-ion cells that you use in the
lithium-ion cells that you use in the
lithium-ion cells that you use in the vehicles and also in your energy storage
vehicles and also in your energy storage
vehicles and also in your energy storage products that I’ll talk about in a
products that I’ll talk about in a
products that I’ll talk about in a minute or two so after some
minute or two so after some
minute or two so after some consideration Tesla decided that they
consideration Tesla decided that they
consideration Tesla decided that they would enter a research partnership with
would enter a research partnership with
would enter a research partnership with us here at Dalhousie and in June of 2015
us here at Dalhousie and in June of 2015
us here at Dalhousie and in June of 2015 JB Straubel shown with me looking into
JB Straubel shown with me looking into
JB Straubel shown with me looking into the cockpit of a Model S he traveled
the cockpit of a Model S he traveled
the cockpit of a Model S he traveled here to Dowell to sign the research
here to Dowell to sign the research
here to Dowell to sign the research partnership agreements and JB Straubel
partnership agreements and JB Straubel
partnership agreements and JB Straubel is the CTO and the co-founder of Tesla
is the CTO and the co-founder of Tesla
is the CTO and the co-founder of Tesla so he’s like number two in the company
so he’s like number two in the company
so he’s like number two in the company and this is a an article taken from the
and this is a an article taken from the
and this is a an article taken from the online version of Fortune magazine
online version of Fortune magazine
online version of Fortune magazine I’m called a new weapon so hopefully I’m
I’m called a new weapon so hopefully I’m
I’m called a new weapon so hopefully I’m a not a weapon of mass destruction
a not a weapon of mass destruction
a not a weapon of mass destruction hopefully I’m a good weapon anyhow what
hopefully I’m a good weapon anyhow what
hopefully I’m a good weapon anyhow what are we going to do how are we going to
are we going to do how are we going to
are we going to do how are we going to try to improve Tesla’s projects like
try to improve Tesla’s projects like
try to improve Tesla’s projects like what’s this research partnership all
what’s this research partnership all
what’s this research partnership all about so I’ll tell you in a second
about so I’ll tell you in a second
about so I’ll tell you in a second Tesla also makes the power wall and this
Tesla also makes the power wall and this
Tesla also makes the power wall and this is a photo of two power walls
is a photo of two power walls
is a photo of two power walls side-by-side each one will store about
side-by-side each one will store about
side-by-side each one will store about ten kilowatt hours of electrical energy
ten kilowatt hours of electrical energy
ten kilowatt hours of electrical energy and ten kilowatts of electrical energy
and ten kilowatts of electrical energy
and ten kilowatts of electrical energy would pretty much power your house
would pretty much power your house
would pretty much power your house without a problem overnight and if these
without a problem overnight and if these
without a problem overnight and if these are charged by solar panels or by small
are charged by solar panels or by small
are charged by solar panels or by small windmills during the during the day or
windmills during the during the day or
windmills during the during the day or when the wind is blowing at night when
when the wind is blowing at night when
when the wind is blowing at night when there’s no Sun or when there’s no wind
there’s no Sun or when there’s no wind
there’s no Sun or when there’s no wind they’re discharged to power the house
they’re discharged to power the house
they’re discharged to power the house and the power wall can be charged and
and the power wall can be charged and
and the power wall can be charged and discharged once per day and it should
discharged once per day and it should
discharged once per day and it should last around ten years so this is where
last around ten years so this is where
last around ten years so this is where the research partnership starts to
the research partnership starts to
the research partnership starts to become clear because when you purchase
become clear because when you purchase
become clear because when you purchase one of these power walls it costs money
one of these power walls it costs money
one of these power walls it costs money and it’s going to last ten years well
and it’s going to last ten years well
and it’s going to last ten years well what if it lasted 20 years or 30 years
what if it lasted 20 years or 30 years
what if it lasted 20 years or 30 years or 40 years before you would need to
or 40 years before you would need to
or 40 years before you would need to replace it that would be much much
replace it that would be much much
replace it that would be much much better right and this is where the
better right and this is where the
better right and this is where the problem comes because it’s pretty hard
problem comes because it’s pretty hard
problem comes because it’s pretty hard to design a lithium ion battery that
to design a lithium ion battery that
to design a lithium ion battery that lasts a long time but it’s even harder
lasts a long time but it’s even harder
lasts a long time but it’s even harder to prove that it will if you want to
to prove that it will if you want to
to prove that it will if you want to show that a lithium-ion cell will last
show that a lithium-ion cell will last
show that a lithium-ion cell will last for ten years under real conditions you
for ten years under real conditions you
for ten years under real conditions you have to test it for ten years and if you
have to test it for ten years and if you
have to test it for ten years and if you want to show it’s going to last now
want to show it’s going to last now
want to show it’s going to last now twenty with the improved chemistry that
twenty with the improved chemistry that
twenty with the improved chemistry that you bring to bear you have to test it
you bring to bear you have to test it
you bring to bear you have to test it for twenty years right so our research
for twenty years right so our research
for twenty years right so our research group in 2008 sorry
group in 2008 sorry
group in 2008 sorry developing advanced diagnostic methods
developing advanced diagnostic methods
developing advanced diagnostic methods to detect the very low levels of
to detect the very low levels of
to detect the very low levels of unwanted parasitic reactions that occur
unwanted parasitic reactions that occur
unwanted parasitic reactions that occur in lithium-ion cells that ultimately
in lithium-ion cells that ultimately
in lithium-ion cells that ultimately lead to their failure and it’s these
lead to their failure and it’s these
lead to their failure and it’s these methods that we’ve perfected from 2008
methods that we’ve perfected from 2008
methods that we’ve perfected from 2008 until now that interest companies like
until now that interest companies like
until now that interest companies like Tesla so that we can study new
Tesla so that we can study new
Tesla so that we can study new chemistry’s and learn in a short period
chemistry’s and learn in a short period
chemistry’s and learn in a short period of time whether the lifetime of the
of time whether the lifetime of the
of time whether the lifetime of the cells will be dramatically improved or
cells will be dramatically improved or
cells will be dramatically improved or not so we have to stop burning fossil
not so we have to stop burning fossil
not so we have to stop burning fossil fuels it’s as simple as that
fuels it’s as simple as that
fuels it’s as simple as that and renewables are the way to go solar
and renewables are the way to go solar
and renewables are the way to go solar at the moment if you buy a solar
at the moment if you buy a solar
at the moment if you buy a solar photovoltaic panel with a lifetime of 30
photovoltaic panel with a lifetime of 30
photovoltaic panel with a lifetime of 30 years the electricity it produces today
years the electricity it produces today
years the electricity it produces today will cost you the same as electricity
will cost you the same as electricity
will cost you the same as electricity from coal if you erect a big wind tower
from coal if you erect a big wind tower
from coal if you erect a big wind tower windmill and it operates for 30 years
windmill and it operates for 30 years
windmill and it operates for 30 years the electricity from that windmill will
the electricity from that windmill will
the electricity from that windmill will be roughly equivalent in cost to the
be roughly equivalent in cost to the
be roughly equivalent in cost to the electricity from coal the problem with
electricity from coal the problem with
electricity from coal the problem with the wind and the Sun of course is
the wind and the Sun of course is
the wind and the Sun of course is they’re not there all the time right
they’re not there all the time right
they’re not there all the time right it’s not sunny at night and there’s no
it’s not sunny at night and there’s no
it’s not sunny at night and there’s no wind on a calm day so to implement
wind on a calm day so to implement
wind on a calm day so to implement renewables at a large scale on the grid
renewables at a large scale on the grid
renewables at a large scale on the grid you got to have energy storage however
you got to have energy storage however
you got to have energy storage however you’re going to do it you know if you’re
you’re going to do it you know if you’re
you’re going to do it you know if you’re heating your home you can store energy
heating your home you can store energy
heating your home you can store energy as heat but for certain things you need
as heat but for certain things you need
as heat but for certain things you need it as electricity and the idea is you
it as electricity and the idea is you
it as electricity and the idea is you would build gigantic power walls and
would build gigantic power walls and
would build gigantic power walls and Tesla does do this and so do other
Tesla does do this and so do other
Tesla does do this and so do other companies where you can store the energy
companies where you can store the energy
companies where you can store the energy from solar and wind at the moment if the
from solar and wind at the moment if the
from solar and wind at the moment if the if the power wall were to last 10 years
if the power wall were to last 10 years
if the power wall were to last 10 years storing the energy and redelivery it
storing the energy and redelivery it
storing the energy and redelivery it would about double the cost okay so
would about double the cost okay so
would about double the cost okay so solar plus the storage would be double
solar plus the storage would be double
solar plus the storage would be double then Solar alone so the idea is by
then Solar alone so the idea is by
then Solar alone so the idea is by extending the lifetime of the
extending the lifetime of the
extending the lifetime of the lithium-ion cells from 10 to
lithium-ion cells from 10 to
lithium-ion cells from 10 to twenty to thirty to forty or however
twenty to thirty to forty or however
twenty to thirty to forty or however long we can ultimately make them last
long we can ultimately make them last
long we can ultimately make them last the costs will come down proportionately
the costs will come down proportionately
the costs will come down proportionately and that’s a good thing okay so that’s
and that’s a good thing okay so that’s
and that’s a good thing okay so that’s why we’re in this and I want to leave
why we’re in this and I want to leave
why we’re in this and I want to leave you with a really sobering note here
you with a really sobering note here
you with a really sobering note here which is okay we have to do this and
which is okay we have to do this and
which is okay we have to do this and wind and solar are established
wind and solar are established
wind and solar are established technologies that costs are quite good
technologies that costs are quite good
technologies that costs are quite good at the moment let’s say that we wanted
at the moment let’s say that we wanted
at the moment let’s say that we wanted to power Nova Scotia with wind we direct
to power Nova Scotia with wind we direct
to power Nova Scotia with wind we direct enough windmills and we’d also have to
enough windmills and we’d also have to
enough windmills and we’d also have to put in enough storage to be able to
put in enough storage to be able to
put in enough storage to be able to store electricity for a period of time
store electricity for a period of time
store electricity for a period of time when the wind is not there so let’s say
when the wind is not there so let’s say
when the wind is not there so let’s say we want to store electricity for one day
we want to store electricity for one day
we want to store electricity for one day so we could power Nova Scotia for one
so we could power Nova Scotia for one
so we could power Nova Scotia for one day okay how much we need to store
day okay how much we need to store
day okay how much we need to store well Nova Scotia power generates 2.3
well Nova Scotia power generates 2.3
well Nova Scotia power generates 2.3 gigawatts continuously of electrical
gigawatts continuously of electrical
gigawatts continuously of electrical power if we want to store 24 hours worth
power if we want to store 24 hours worth
power if we want to store 24 hours worth 2.3 gigawatts times 24 hours equals 55
2.3 gigawatts times 24 hours equals 55
2.3 gigawatts times 24 hours equals 55 gigawatt hours we need to store to power
gigawatt hours we need to store to power
gigawatt hours we need to store to power Nova Scotia for one day if you remember
Nova Scotia for one day if you remember
Nova Scotia for one day if you remember back to my previous slide the Tesla
back to my previous slide the Tesla
back to my previous slide the Tesla gigafactory which will be half the world
gigafactory which will be half the world
gigafactory which will be half the world productions of lithium-ion cells makes
productions of lithium-ion cells makes
productions of lithium-ion cells makes 35 gigawatt hours of lithium-ion cells
35 gigawatt hours of lithium-ion cells
35 gigawatt hours of lithium-ion cells in a year not even enough to power Nova
in a year not even enough to power Nova
in a year not even enough to power Nova Scotia from one day okay so the scale of
Scotia from one day okay so the scale of
Scotia from one day okay so the scale of energy storage that we need for
energy storage that we need for
energy storage that we need for renewables is almost beyond
renewables is almost beyond
renewables is almost beyond comprehension its massive and yet you
comprehension its massive and yet you
comprehension its massive and yet you know people like Elon Musk who’s the CEO
know people like Elon Musk who’s the CEO
know people like Elon Musk who’s the CEO of Tesla recognizes the importance and
of Tesla recognizes the importance and
of Tesla recognizes the importance and has the guts and the passion to go ahead
has the guts and the passion to go ahead
has the guts and the passion to go ahead and build this giant Giga Factory and
and build this giant Giga Factory and
and build this giant Giga Factory and get people to buy into this idea you
get people to buy into this idea you
get people to buy into this idea you know the man is truly a visionary he’s
know the man is truly a visionary he’s
know the man is truly a visionary he’s been ranked alongside Bill Gates and
been ranked alongside Bill Gates and
been ranked alongside Bill Gates and Steve Jobs as one of the most visionary
Steve Jobs as one of the most visionary
Steve Jobs as one of the most visionary guys you know in this era and I must
guys you know in this era and I must
guys you know in this era and I must tell you that Tesla has only one
tell you that Tesla has only one
tell you that Tesla has only one University partnership in the world
University partnership in the world
University partnership in the world and it’s with us okay and I feel
and it’s with us okay and I feel
and it’s with us okay and I feel incredibly thrilled and incredibly
incredibly thrilled and incredibly
incredibly thrilled and incredibly honored to have the opportunity to work
honored to have the opportunity to work
honored to have the opportunity to work with a company like that thank you very
with a company like that thank you very
with a company like that thank you very much
much
much [Applause]
”
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