Hydrogen Batteries That Work in the Cold

Once seen as simple power sources, batteries today stand at the heart of the world’s clean-energy transformation as one of the fastest-growing technologies shaping our future.

Among battery types, lithium-ion batteries are the preferred choice to power everything from mobile phones to electric vehicles (EVs).

Li-ion batteries first appeared commercially in the early 1990s, but demand for them grew exponentially in the last decade, going from just 0.5 gigawatt-hours (GWh) in 2010 to about 526 GWh a decade later.

A nearly 90% decline in lithium-ion battery costs, from approximately $1,400 per kWh in 2010 to $140 per kWh in 2023, combined with advances in energy density and cycle life, has reinforced their dominance in electric vehicle and energy storage applications.

A big problem with rechargeable batteries like lithium-ion cells, however, is that they do not like the cold.

Why Batteries Fail in the Cold (and How Engineers Fix It)

Batteries perform poorly in cold conditions. This is because of their internal electrochemical reactions that slow down at subzero temperatures.

Most batteries have three main parts:

• Electrodes
• Electrolyte
• Separator

There are two electrodes in a battery, and both are made of conductive materials. One electrode, known as the cathode, connects to the battery’s positive end, and this is where the electrical current leaves the battery during discharge. The other electrode, known as the anode, connects to the battery’s negative end, and this is where the electrical current enters the battery during discharge. 

The two are kept separated using the separator to prevent a short circuit. Between these electrodes is a liquid electrolyte, which contains electrically charged particles, or ions. By combining with the materials that make up the electrodes, the electrolyte produces chemical reactions that allow a battery to generate an electric current.

In the case of Li-ion batteries, the electrolyte is typically a lithium salt in solution that transfers charge-carrying particles (ions) between the electrodes of the battery. But when it’s cold, the ions slow down and can’t properly work with the electrodes, thus affecting the battery’s ability to generate as much current before it runs down. 

Moreover, if too much lithium gets deposited on an electrode, it can lead to a short circuit and cause a fire.

So, cold weather severely affects battery life. Both the efficiency and usable capacity of a battery are reduced significantly. An AAA survey from last year showed that the range drop over the winter and concerns about slower charging have been contributing to the slowing of EV momentum.

To overcome this problem, companies around the world have been working on new and better battery chemistries. 

For instance, Chinese battery giant CATL announced the second generation of its sodium-ion battery, which can discharge at temperatures as low as minus 40 degrees Celsius and features enhanced safety measures, aiming to surpass 200 watt-hours per kilogram in energy density. 

While sodium-ion batteries are said to be safer and more resistant to cold than Li-ion batteries, they have a lower energy density and higher production costs.

Meanwhile, University of Michigan engineers developed a modified manufacturing process¹ for EV batteries to enable high ranges and fast charging in cold weather.

The team created pathways of 50 micrometres in the anode and applied a 20nm thick coating of a glassy material made of lithium borate-carbonate to prevent the formation of lithium plating on the battery’s electrodes. Li-ion EV batteries made with these modifications can charge 500% faster at 14°F (-10 °C) and retain 97% of their capacity even after being fast-charged 100 times at such cold temperatures.

“For the first time, we’ve shown a pathway to simultaneously achieve extreme fast charging at low temperatures, without sacrificing the energy density of the lithium-ion battery.”

– Co-author Neil Dasgupta, U-M associate professor of mechanical engineering and materials science and engineering

Others are optimizing electrolyte formulations and modifying anode materials, building specialized battery technology, incorporating thicker insulation with built-in heaters, proposing temperature-controlled smart charging², and presenting a predictive control algorithm³ to adjust battery temperature, among other solutions.

Amidst these ongoing advancements in materials, electrolytes, and other technologies to tackle the challenges batteries face in cold weather, scientists are also exploring alternative energy storage systems such as hydrogen-based batteries.

Hydrogen Batteries: How They Work and Why They Matter

Hydrogen is a clean energy source that, when consumed in a fuel cell, produces only water. It is an energy carrier that can store and deliver energy generated from other sources.

The most abundant chemical element in the universe, hydrogen can be produced from natural gas, biomass, and nuclear power, as well as from renewable sources like wind and solar.

This colorless, odorless, and highly flammable gas is also a key component of water and all organic compounds.
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Hydrogen is actually a key component of the Sun. It is converted into energy through the process of nuclear fusion in its core. Under immense pressure and heat, hydrogen atoms fuse to form helium, releasing vast amounts of energy. This energy then travels outward through the Sun’s layers and radiates into space as light and heat. 

On Earth, hydrogen is an attractive fuel option and offers more battery lifespan compared to lithium-ion batteries. 

To evaluate the technical and financial performances of a hydrogen battery storage system and a lithium-ion battery, researchers from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) assessed⁴ two commercially available systems, LAVO and Tesla Powerwall 2. They found that the former has more energy losses. 

However, hydrogen batteries were found to have less capacity degradation and higher energy density than lithium-ion batteries, allowing them to store more energy for a longer duration. Their ability to endure 18% more charge-discharge cycles than the Li-ion battery makes them “suitable for remote applications requiring extended duration of energy storage.”

A separate study from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) developed a novel chemical battery system⁵ for a safer, more sustainable future for battery-powered systems.

While current hydrogen-based batteries use H2 as a cathode, which limits their voltage range and energy storage capacity, the USTC research team proposed utilizing it as the anode. The team developed a prototype, featuring a lithium anode, a solid electrolyte, and a platinum-coated gas diffusion layer acting as the hydrogen cathode.

The team reports a theoretical specific energy up to 2,825 Wh/kg, a ~3 V discharge, and 99.7% round-trip efficiency in their Li-H configuration—indicating strong potential, though the 2,825 Wh/kg figure is not a realized pack‐level measurement.

To improve its cost-effectiveness, the team built a Li-H battery without an anode. Here, lithium deposition was sourced from lithium salts during charging. The improved version enables efficient lithium plating and stripping and operates stably even at low hydrogen concentrations, thus reducing reliance on high-pressure hydrogen storage.

Compared to regular nickel-hydrogen batteries, the Li-H system offers improved energy density and efficiency, unlocking future explorations into Li-H battery tech applications.

Despite the many advantages of hydrogen for clean energy storage, storing it isn’t easy. In fact, storage is a major challenge with the use of hydrogen.

The Ba–Ca–Na Hydride Electrolyte That Unlocks Low-Temp Hydrogen Storage

Storing hydrogen requires either extremely low temperatures (−252.8 °C) or high pressures (350 to 700 bar), or both. Storing it in a solid state avoids the safety risks associated with high-pressure gas tanks, but it encounters material limitations at low temperatures.

To address this, researchers from the Institute of Science Tokyo (Science Tokyo) explored hydride ion-mediated electrochemical hydrogen storage, which led them to discover a promising hydride ion-conducting solid electrolyte⁶ from a barium, calcium, and sodium hydride system.

Combining ions of different sizes has been reported to have superionic conductivity, and it was in pursuit of this that the researchers came to combine their ions: BaH2-CaH2-NaH.

The resulting solid electrolyte, anti–α-AgI–type Ba0.5Ca0.35Na0.15H1.85, has superb electrochemical stability and hydride ions (H–) conductivity. 

It’s remarkable that electrochemical stability actually allows flexible coupling with many metal-hydride electrodes. So, the electrolyte works well with several metal-hydrogen electrodes, such as titanium hydride and magnesium hydride (MgH2), enabling high-capacity, reversible hydrogen storage at low temperatures.

In initial experiments, the researchers tested their electrolyte in a system where it was put between TiH2 (titanium dihydride is a compound of titanium and hydrogen) and titanium reference electrodes, as well as acetylene black and molybdenum current collectors. 

This allowed the researchers to find the solid electrolyte’s stable potential window, which is the best ever reported.

A high H– conductivity was also reported by researchers, which was due to the electrolyte’s body-centred cubic (bcc) structure. This structure has a lower packing density, which provides “an open pathway for ion transport.” Highly polarisable cations in the framework were also responsible for the high ion conductivity.

Then, to test their electrolytes’ hydrogen storage capabilities, the researchers produced a cell using MgH2.

MgH2 is a chemical compound that’s studied for hydrogen storage due to its high capacity and low cost. This material can be integrated into a battery-like system where hydrogen is stored and released during charging and discharging. However, its use has been limited by undesirable side reactions, poor hydrogen absorption and desorption reversal, and the need for temperatures as high as 300 °C and above.

But the researchers were able to have Mg-H2 cells working as hydrogen storage devices, demonstrating a capacity of 2,030 mAh/g at 90°C.

From 300–400 °C to ~90 °C: A Practical Low-Temperature Hydrogen Battery

The new hydrogen battery from Science Tokyo researchers has overcome the low-capacity and high-temperature limits of earlier methods. Instead of operating at 300-400 degrees C (572-752 F) temperatures, which is needed for current solid-state hydrogen storage approaches, this battery operates at 90 °C (194 degrees F).

The battery operates by migrating hydride ions through a solid electrolyte, allowing magnesium hydride (MgH2) to store and release hydrogen repeatedly at full capacity.

With this development, researchers are offering a practical way to store hydrogen fuel, paving the way for hydrogen-powered vehicles and clean energy systems.

“We demonstrated the operation of an Mg–H2 battery as a safe and efficient hydrogen energy storage device, achieving high capacity, low temperature, and reversible hydrogen gas absorption and release.”

– Assistant Professor Naoki Matsui

While hydrogen batteries with solid-state components already exist, they require high operating temperatures. The new hydrogen battery, however, can achieve the full theoretical storage capacity of the MgH2 anode and high ionic conductivity at room temperature. That is because of the solid electrolyte, Ba0.5Ca0.35Na0.15H1.85.

Made of barium (Ba), calcium (Ca), and sodium hydride (NaH), the electrolyte can move hydride ions (H–) efficiently.

It has a crystal structure (anti-α-AgI-type), known for its superionic conductivity. In this structure, Ba, Ca, and Na occupy body-centered positions, while hydride ions move through face-sharing octahedral and tetrahedral sites, enabling their free migration. 

This new battery functions like a Li-Ion one, but instead of moving positively charged ions through the electrolyte, it uses hydride ions that carry a negative charge and can pass through its crystal structure.

The battery uses magnesium hydride (MgH2) as the anode and hydrogen gas (H2) as the cathode. 

During charging, the MgH2 anode releases hydride ions, which migrate through the novel electrolyte to the cathode, where they are oxidized to release hydrogen gas.

The process reverses during discharging, the hydrogen gas at the cathode is reduced to hydride ions, through a chemical reaction, which moves through the electrolyte to the anode, where it reacts with Mg to form MgH2. The oxidation-reduction reaction (redox) causes the negatively charged anode to lose electrons, which flow across an external circuit to the cathode with a net positive charge, thereby delivering power to connected systems.

This allows the solid-state cell to store as well as release H2 when required at temperatures just below the boiling point of water.

Using this cell, the researchers reached the full theoretical storage capacity of MgH2 over repeated cycles. The 2,030mAh per gram capacity is much higher than that of lithium-ion batteries, which is between 154 and 203mAh per gram.

“These properties of our hydrogen storage battery were previously unattainable through conventional thermal methods or liquid electrolytes, offering a foundation for efficient hydrogen storage systems suitable for use as energy carriers.”

– Takashi Hirose, the study’s lead author and associate professor in Kyoto University’s Institute of Chemical Research (ICR)

While the battery isn’t ready for use in our everyday items, this is a breakthrough in hydrogen energy storage at much lower temperatures than previously possible, paving the way for more efficient and easier hydrogen storage. 

This can result in hydrogen batteries replacing the heavy lithium-ion batteries, which degrade and face reduced efficiency over time, in electric cars.

Moreover, by allowing for hydrogen storage without needing high-pressure systems, extreme cooling, or high operating temperatures, this new battery design can support hydrogen’s use as a green power source and accelerate the ongoing transition towards green energy.

The researchers now plan to develop solid electrolytes and electrode materials with higher ionic conductivity. They will also work on device designs with lower operating temperatures and improved energy efficiency.

Investing in Hydrogen Battery Tech

Bloom Energy Corporation (BE -11.12%) is engaged in the design and manufacturing of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). Its fuel cell system provides onsite electricity generation for semiconductor manufacturing, data centers, large utilities, and other sectors. It has deployed a total of 1.5 GW of power across more than 1,200 installations globally. 

The company has two products: the Bloom Electrolyzer for producing hydrogen and the Bloom Energy Server for generating electricity.

When it comes to Bloom’s market performance, it has been enjoying a massive rally this year. Up 391% YTD, BE shares hit an all-time high (ATH) of $125.75 just this month. With that, it has an EPS (TTM) of 0.11 and a P/E (TTM) of 1,013.28.

As for the company’s financial position, Bloom reported a revenue of $401.2 million for Q2 of 2025, up 19.5% from the same quarter last year. Its gross margin was 26.7% and its non-GAAP gross margin was 28.2% while its operating loss was $3.5 million during this period.

“As onsite power becomes increasingly self-evident, given rapid AI growth, there has never been better market pull for the Bloom products. Unlike alternatives, our products are purpose-built for the digital revolution.”

– Founder and CEO KR Sridhar

After collaborating with Oracle to deliver onsite power to its AI data centers, Bloom Energy has now partnered with Brookfield (NYSE: BAM), which will invest up to $5 billion to deploy its fuel cell technology. Together, the two are “creating a new blueprint for powering AI at scale.”

Latest Bloom Energy Corporation (BE) Stock News and Developments

Conclusion

With their high energy efficiency, high energy density, and long cycle life, lithium-ion batteries have become a popular choice for electric vehicles as well as energy storage. But of course, cold weather presents a big challenge for these batteries, causing a decline in their capacity and efficiency. 

As scientists and companies worldwide advance next-generation battery designs, hydrogen has been gaining traction as an energy carrier and a fuel of the future.

The new hydrogen battery with a solid electrolyte marks a milestone with its ability to store and release hydrogen at extremely low temperatures, four times colder than previous models. By enabling stable operation and full theoretical capacity, this breakthrough could enable the creation of denser, longer-lasting batteries for EVs, significantly improving their performance in extreme climates.

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References:

1. Cho, T. H., Chen, Y., Liao, D. W., Kazyak, E., Penley, D., Jangid, M. K., & Dasgupta, N. P. (2025). Enabling 6C fast charging of Li-ion batteries at sub-zero temperatures via interface engineering and 3D architectures. Joule, 9(5), 101881. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joule.2025.101881
2. Ruan, G., & Dahleh, M. A. (2025). Temperature-Controlled Smart Charging for Electric Vehicles in Cold Climates. arXiv. https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2501.01105
3. Lu, Z., Tu, H., Fang, H., Wang, Y., & Mou, S. (2024). Integrated Optimal Fast Charging and Active Thermal Management of Lithium-Ion Batteries in Extreme Ambient Temperatures. arXiv. https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2404.04358
4. Hassan, M. U., Bremner, S., Menictas, C., & Kay, M. (2024). Assessment of hydrogen and lithium-ion batteries in rooftop solar PV systems. Journal of Energy Storage, 86(Part A), 111182. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.est.2024.111182
5. Liu, Z., Ma, Y., Khan, N. A., Jiang, T., Zhu, Z., Li, K., Zhang, K., Liu, S., Xie, Z., Yuan, Y., Wang, M., Zheng, X., Sun, J., Wang, W., Meng, Y., Xu, Y., Chuai, M., Yang, J., & Chen, W. (2025). Rechargeable lithium-hydrogen gas batteries. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 64(7), e202419663. https://doi.org/10.1002/anie.202419663
6. Hirose, T., Matsui, N., Itoh, T., Hinuma, Y., Ikeda, K., Gotoh, K., Jiang, G., Suzuki, K., Hirayama, M., & Kanno, R. (2025). High-capacity, reversible hydrogen storage using H⁻-conducting solid electrolytes. Science, 389(6766), 1252–1255. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adw1996