News Summary

Daqus Energy, a startup spun out of MIT, has emerged from stealth mode with a new battery material called bis-tetraaminobenzoquinone (TAQ). This material aims to make electric vehicle (EV) sports cars faster, lighter, and more affordable. TAQ replaces the traditional cathode materials in lithium-ion batteries, such as nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) and iron-phosphate (LFP), with widely available carbon-based compounds, reducing costs and energy requirements. The startup has received a $6 million seed round led by Morningside. TAQ-based batteries can be charged and discharged 2,000 times while maintaining 80% of their original capacity, and they allow for six-minute fast charging. Although TAQ cathodes take up more space than NMC, they are competitive with LFP, offering a promising alternative for lighter and cheaper EVs.