ARPA-E's EVs4ALL programme seeks to increase EV adoption and market share by developing next-generation battery technologies to significantly improve EV affordability, convenience, reliability, and safety. The EVs4ALL project will accelerate this objective by enabling a 5–15-minute charge to 80% of cell capacity.

Ion and UMD will realise current density goals in Ion's ceramic bilayer which comprises a dense separator layer and a porous layer which hosts a lithium metal anode. UMD will initiate the partnership and conduct a technology transfer to Ion in the second year. This partnership will accelerate advancements in fast charging, solid state cells by integrating a mixed ionic-electronic conducting (MIEC) garnet material into Ion's porous layer to enable higher current densities for fast charging at room temperatures with no applied pressure.

"If we are to meet critical electrification goals, the world needs a safe, more powerful battery,” said Ricky Hanna, CEO of Ion Storage Systems. “Our solid-state platform in combination with the project laid out for the EVs4ALL program delivers the path we need to meet those goals."