Dyson, the United Kingdom-based company known for its bagless vacuum cleaners, acquired solid-state battery company Sakti3 in a transaction worth $90 million.
The news comes seven months after Dyson made an investment of $15 million on Sakti3, which is a spinoff from the University of Michigan.
The technology of Sakti3 is currently in development mode, and it could take years before its products can be released to the market. Dyson has, however, said that it will be the first company to utilize Sakti3's technology in its products. With the announcement to acquire Sakti3, it seems that Dyson is placing a high level of confidence in the company's solid-state battery technology.
"If we are to continue to create new and disruptive technology we must develop more advanced core technologies," said James Dyson, founder of Dyson.
Dyson said that the company has invested almost $310 million on research and development for the Dyson digital motor, which is now powering the company's machines. Dyson will be doing the same for batteries, beginning with the breakthrough technology of Sakti3.
Solid-state technology is often seen in storage devices such as USB flash drives. The technology means that the devices are faster and more reliable without additional mechanical components.
The solid-state batteries of Sakti3 are still based on lithium, the same component found in the batteries of mobile phones. However, Sakti3's technology is different since the batteries contain solid lithium in place of flammable liquid, resulting in a higher energy density. More power is contained in less space.
In addition to improving the battery life of its products and developing new ones using Sakti3's technology, Dyson will also be building a major battery production plant. The facility will need an investment of up to $1 billion, although no definite decision has been made on the facility's location.
Sakti3 CEO and founder Ann Marie Sastry and Dyson have not addressed speculations about Sakti3's solid-state battery technology finding its way to electric vehicles. The topic is especially important for Sakti3, after claiming last year that it is developing batteries two times more efficient than the batteries in the electric vehicles of Tesla Motors.
