IBM has announced that Asahi Kasei and Central Glass will join its Battery 500 project, a research initiative to develop lithium-air batteries capable of powering an electric vehicle for approximately 500 miles on a single charge.

According to IBM, Asahi Kasei, a Japan-based chemical manufacturer and global supplier of separator membrane for lithium-ion batteries, will use its experience in membrane technology to create a critical component for lithium-air batteries. Meanwhile, Central Glass, a global electrolyte manufacturer for lithium-ion batteries, will help to create a new class of electrolytes and high-performance additives specifically designed to improve lithium-air batteries.

According to IBM, lithium-air batteries have higher energy density than lithium-ion batteries, due to their lighter cathodes and the fact that their primary "fuel" is the oxygen readily available in the atmosphere. This research will take place at IBM Research - Almaden in California.