One technology that has been largely overlooked for grid storage is NiMH. For more than a decade, NiMH batteries have delivered safe, reliable, cost-effective performance in more than five million hybrid electric vehicles. NiMH batteries consistently deliver life-of-vehicle performance and owners seldom give them a second thought, regardless of driving conditions.

—Michael Zelinsky, Market and Business Development Manager, BASF Battery Materials

Ongoing research and development with NiMH battery materials has yielded significant enhancements in operating temperature range and cycle life that make it a viable candidate for utility-scale energy storage applications, BASF says. NiMH can perform over extended periods of time in a wide operating range of -30 to +65 ⁰C, significantly reducing the complexity and cost of thermal management systems required for a utility-scale energy storage installation.

Over the last year, BASF has improved its technology base and global market access for battery materials through a number of acquisitions and licensing agreements. NiMH battery technology is part of the portfolio of BASF battery solutions which includes cathode materials and electrolytes for lithium-ion batteries and next generation lithium-sulfur technology.