Japanese paper firm sets sights on developing a wood-based alternative to EV batteries

Nippon Paper Industries Co. is developing supercapacitors made of cellulose nanofibers as a successor to lithium-ion batteries for electric cars.

The material is produced by refining wood pulp and found in products like diapers or food additives.

The cellulose nanofibers could be used to create supercapacitors that could better store and release energy with less environmental impact.

These supercapacitors could be applied in areas where lithium-ion batteries are used, such as cars and smartphones.’

Nippon Paper aims to demonstrate the technology at the World Expo in Osaka in 2025 and to fully commercialize it a decade later, according to Toru Nozawa, Nippon Paper’s CEO.

Supercapacitors have taken a role in niche applications, such as memory backup systems for laptops or regenerative braking for some hybrid and plug-in vehicles. They also have the potential of an energy storage system with shorter recharging times, fewer safety risks, and zero reliance on expensive metals like nickel and cobalt.