Ann Arbor battery entrepreneur Ann Marie Sastry listed among 'Top 12 women of cleantech'

Posted on Fri, Jul 29, 2011 : 10:39 a.m.

Ann Arbor battery entrepreneur Ann Marie Sastry listed among 'Top 12 women of cleantech'

By Nathan Bomey

University of Michigan engineering professor Ann Marie Sastry was named as one of Forbes magazine's "Top 12 women of cleantech."

University of Michigan professor and Sakti3 CEO Ann Marie Sastry

Sastry is the CEO of Ann Arbor-based battery startup Sakti3, which is developing solid-state lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles. The technology, designed to be used in the second iteration of electric vehicles, has drawn capital from major investors such as Silicon Valley's Khosla Ventures and General Motors' GM Ventures.

"With backing from GM, Sastry’s company has developed a next-gen lithium-ion battery that uses no liquids, offering big improvements in energy density and safety," Forbes reported.

The honor comes as Sakti3 is in the midst of an expansion of its Ann Arbor presence.

Contact AnnArbor.com's Nathan Bomey at (734) 623-2587 or nathanbomey@annarbor.com. You can also follow him on Twitter or subscribe to AnnArbor.com's newsletters.

Comments

MikeB

Fri, Jul 29, 2011 : 4:47 p.m.

I believe from listening to her in the past she feels that she and her team and made breakthroughs in the design (formula) and manufacturing processes to have a competitive advantage over other types of technology. Naturally she is keeping her design details secret.

Nathan Bomey

Fri, Jul 29, 2011 : 3:20 p.m.

@Trespass My apologies -- I see now that you recognize this is a different company, but you believe our coverage of these two companies is not satisfactory. Although I understand the desire for more details about the technologies, I can assure you that details are scarce. In fact, both companies have closely guarded their intellectual property for competitive reasons. The details that have emerged we've reported. And we will continue to monitor both companies. Here is some additional coverage of Sakti3, in particular: <a href="http://www.annarbor.com/business-review/electric-vehicle-battery-startup-sakti3-lands-7m-from-major-alternative-energy-investors/">http://www.annarbor.com/business-review/electric-vehicle-battery-startup-sakti3-lands-7m-from-major-alternative-energy-investors/</a> <a href="http://ww.annarbor.com/autos/former-chevy-volt-lead-engineer-joins-ann-arbor-battery-startup-sakti3/">http://ww.annarbor.com/autos/former-chevy-volt-lead-engineer-joins-ann-arbor-battery-startup-sakti3/</a> <a href="http://www.annarbor.com/business-review/ann-arbor-battery-firm-sakti3-lands-32-million-investment-from-general-motors/">http://www.annarbor.com/business-review/ann-arbor-battery-firm-sakti3-lands-32-million-investment-from-general-motors/</a>

Craig Lounsbury

Fri, Jul 29, 2011 : 3:19 p.m.

"cleantech" is a rather subjective term. How much "clean" and how much "dirty" goes in to the manufacture of these batteries? When you use electricity to recharge your batteries how "clean" or "dirty" is the generation of that electricity?

Mick52

Sat, Jul 30, 2011 : 7:07 p.m.

Just to toss another curveball into the game here, How much does litium ion cost, and how much will it cost when the Organization of Lithium Producing Countries is formed? And is LI not very much in demand? It is being used in batteries of all types. Does this sound familiar? That we are looking to run cars on a natural resource that is expensive and will at some time become rare? I am perusing new rechargeable drills as my old ones are experiencing battery failure. The LI battery powered prices are a lot higher, unaffordable for me. I will admit, the power is amazing, almost like a plug in. Like the drills, electric and hybrid cars are too expensive.

Tom Teague

Fri, Jul 29, 2011 : 3:36 p.m.

A Carbonosaurus, perhaps? It's actually a good question, Craig and the answers I've seen are open to vigorous debate. In short, electric car proponents say that electric engines in cars are vastly more efficient and clean for daily short-trip commuting and that batteries can be re-charged overnight when utility system demands are small and there's excess capacity.

Craig Lounsbury

Fri, Jul 29, 2011 : 3:22 p.m.

I'm just asking questions for anyone who wants to blast me as a fossil fuel loving dinosaur

Nathan Bomey

Fri, Jul 29, 2011 : 3:12 p.m.

@Trespass You're thinking of the wrong company. This story is about Ann Marie Sastry, CEO of Sakti3. Not A123Systems. Different companies.

trespass

Fri, Jul 29, 2011 : 3:05 p.m.

A123 Systems has factories and employs more than 1,000 people. It has received $259 million in grants. It would be more interesting to me to know how the technology for these two companies compares or why one gets grants while the other gets venture capital, than to know that the CEO got an award. Nathan, why don't you write about the substance of the company rather than simply reporting PR pieces?