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University of Michigan Innovation Partnerships
University of Michigan Innovation Partnerships
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MTRAC Advanced Transportation Innovation Hub Supports Groundbreaking Electric Vehicle Battery Research

4/7/2025

Imagine a future where electric vehicles can travel more than 1,000 miles on a single charge. Making that vision a reality is what researchers Jeff Sakamoto, professor of materials at the University of California – Santa Barbara and visiting professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Michigan, and Neil Dasgupta, associate professor of mechanical engineering and materials science and engineering, as well as a Miller Faculty Scholar, are working toward. 

 “We currently have a finite source of energy, that being fossil fuels. We need to be wiser and more forward-thinking about how we’re going to create a more sustainable future,” said Sakamoto, “and I think you’ll find that batteries are at the center of that future.”

Their work in revolutionizing electric vehicles and the batteries that power them has progressed with support from the Michigan Translational Research and Commercialization (MTRAC) Advanced Transportation Innovation Hub at the University of Michigan.

At present, electric vehicles can typically travel 300 to 400 miles on a single charge. Advances in next-generation battery technology could extend this range, enabling the electrification of larger vehicles such as trucks and airplanes. Currently, the battery industry largely depends on lithium-ion (Li-ion) technology, which uses a liquid electrolyte to facilitate energy transfer between the anode and cathode. In contrast, ceramic ion conductors (CICs) and other solid-state batteries (SSBs) employ a solid electrolyte, offering improvements in performance, safety,  and perhaps manufacturability over traditional liquid electrolytes. Large-scale production of CICs and solid-state batteries could transform the transportation sector into a cornerstone of sustainable energy. 

In 2015, Sakamoto received an MTRAC Advanced Transportation grant to support his research project, “Segmented Cell Architecture for Solid State Batteries.” The current manufacturing processes heavily focus on Li-ion batteries, which are constructed by integrating an electrode into a large sheet of flexible polymer, allowing the material to be bent into an appropriate shape. However, SSB electrodes must be integrated at a higher temperature, making the large polymer sheet brittle and unable to be reshaped. Sakamoto developed a method of building SSBs as smaller tiles that can be joined together, remaining flexible at their joints and utilizing existing manufacturing equipment to build a more stable and manipulable battery. This technology could reduce manufacturing costs and increase the usability of SSBs, potentially accelerating the widespread adoption of electric vehicles.  

To commercialize this novel solid-state technology that was enhanced through the MTRAC program, Sakamoto founded Zakuro in 2020 with the help of Innovation Partnerships. Funding support for Zakuro was also provided by the Michigan Investment in New Technology Startups (MINTS), Red Cedar Ventures, Michigan Rise, the Accelerate Blue Fund, the Department of Energy’s ARPA-E program and the Defense Logistics Agency. Zakuro’s solid-state separator technology dramatically increases energy density over Li-ion counterparts while leveraging existing lithium-ion manufacturing capabilities to lower costs and speed adoption rates.

“It’s been said that we’re in a battery moment in civilization, and I think that’s very true,” Sakamoto noted. “The work we’re doing on batteries is crucial not only to foster the adoption of electric vehicles but also to aid in the transition from a fossil fuel-dependent society to a sustainable, electric future.”

In addition to evolutions in solid-state batteries, novel advancements have also been made in the world of Li-ion batteries. In 2020, MTRAC awarded Dasgupta a one-year grant for his project, “Highly Ordered Laser-patterned Electrodes for Extreme Fast-Charging Batteries,” which was designed to provide rapid charging solutions for Li-ion batteries by limiting degradation through a laser-patterned electrode process. By using laser-patterned electrode architecture, this technology improves ion transport allowing for faster charging without sacrificing stability. This grant followed a successful proposal pitch to an oversight committee composed of experienced technologists, entrepreneurs, industry partners and venture capitalists specializing in frontier technologies.

Thanks to the support from MTRAC Advanced Transportation and Innovation Partnerships, Dasgupta would go on to co-found Arbor Batteries Innovations, a startup focused on commercializing his fast-charging battery technology, with doctoral researcher Andrew Davis in 2023. Today, Dasgupta and his team’s fast-charging battery technology has the potential to revolutionize the electric vehicle industry by extending a vehicle’s range faster and more efficiently. 

“The support and funding from the MTRAC Advanced Transportation Innovation Hub have enabled funded projects such as Zakuro and Arbor Batteries to thrive,” said Larry Herriman, Statewide Director of the MEDC University Technology Programs. “They are prime examples of how the MTRAC programs should function by leading to successful licensing and job creation. I am proud of how this program continues to excel, enhancing lives through groundbreaking transportation and mobility innovations while positively impacting Michigan’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.”

On the impact of Arbor Batteries, Dasgupta stated, “We had a vision to eliminate the trade-offs between charging time and energy density in conventional batteries. Lithium-ion batteries are the current state-of-the-art battery technology, and we’re excited about their potential for enabling electric vehicles, as well as the electrification of many sectors—a real step towards a future based on renewable energy.”

With support from the MTRAC Advanced Transportation Innovation Hub, which in addition to funding also provides access to resources like Mentors-in-Residence to help researchers de-risk technologies and progress toward launching a startup company, Sakamoto and Dasgupta join a legacy of successful commercialization efforts at U-M. 

“Over the past seven years, the MTRAC Advanced Transportation Innovation Hub has awarded more than $7.4 million to accelerate 72 innovative research projects with high commercial potential,” said Kelly Sexton, associate vice president for research – innovation partnerships and economic impact.

“The Hub has a proven track record of success, having enabled the launch of 20 startup companies that have collectively raised over $50 million in follow-on funding. This pipeline of university innovation and startups is contributing to Michigan’s position as a leader in the development and deployment of advanced transportation technologies.”