Softbank is collaborating with Korean company Cosmos Lab to develop zinc-halogen batteries. The technology is intended to be commercialized for use in their data centers in Japan.
With zinc-halogen technology, lithium and cobalt metals are no longer needed to produce batteries. This reduces dependence on resources that need to be imported from China. China's dominance of over 70% in the rare earth element market allows pressure to be put on Japan as happened last year.
Japan has its own zinc and halogen supplies and at the same time batteries based on these two sources use water-based electronics that have a lower risk of fire. However, they have a shorter lifespan than Li-ion batteries. Cosmos Lab says their technology can extend the lifespan of zinc-halogen batteries by reducing the formation of dendrites that reduce performance.
