The future of electric vehicle batteries is supposed to be solid-state models that should have advantages over the current lithium-ion batteries used today.
How can countries cut down on the expulsion of greenhouse gasses? One of the most controllable methods is to require automakers to make vehicles that expel fewer harmful emissions into the atmosphere. This can be done best by building and selling electric vehicles. EVs don’t expel any harmful chemicals into the atmosphere, making them the perfect vehicles for the future, but current battery technology has its limits.
What are the differences between these two battery types?
Electric vehicles currently utilize lithium-ion batteries, which consist of:
- Electrical contacts
- Cathode (positive electrode), the source of lithium ions
- Anode (negative electrode), made of an ion acceptor material
- Separator, a plastic-polymer insulating material keeping the cathode and anode apart
- Electrolyte, a liquid medium that contains lithium salt through which the ions flow
A solid-state battery won’t use the liquid electrolyte but will have a solid lithium metal anode and solid ceramic electrolyte. This ceramic piece acts as the separator and becomes part of the solid medium through which the lithium ions move. This setup means more energy can be generated by a smaller battery.
Here are some advantages to utilizing solid-state batteries in electric vehicles versus the current lithium-ion models.
New batteries could be smaller
A solid-state battery has a solid electrolyte which replaces the need for a separator. If the electrolyte is sold and not in a liquid form, the battery could take up less space than current lithium-ion models. These new batteries are expected to be small enough that they could be used in some short-haul aircraft and heavy trucks. These are areas in which EV technology hasn’t been used widely yet.
Future EV batteries will be lighter
Lithium is the lightest metal element, but using a liquid electrolyte makes EV batteries heavy and large. As EVs get larger and electric power is more widely used, a new form of pollution becomes a problem. Heavier vehicles generate more pollution from the tires. If the batteries are much lighter and smaller than they are now, tire wear might become negligible when compared to gas-powered vehicles.
EV fires will be lessened
Current lithium-ion batteries contain flammable liquid electrolytes which can cause fires. This liquid’s presence is why EVs burn completely when it catches fire or the batteries become compromised. Solid-state batteries can change this and become a safer alternative. Batteries with a solid electrolyte have higher thermal stability, making them safer.
Capacity and driving range
Most drivers are concerned with the driving range and charging times of electric vehicles. These are two key factors keeping many drivers from making the switch to these new models. Batteries with a solid electrolyte have increased energy density, which means more can be packed into less, potentially increasing mileage on a single charge. The distance advantage is still unknown but this could be a game-changer in the EV world.
Reduced recharging times
It doesn’t take long to refill a gas tank at a gas station. This is one of the most damning sticking points of EVs, but solid-state batteries could change everything. These new batteries could take as little as 10 or 15 minutes to achieve the 80% charge level that most drivers are limited to at DC fast charging stations. If the driving range is significantly increased using new batteries, some automakers claim up to 745 miles of range; that 80% mark won’t be as challenging as it is with lithium-ion batteries.
Reduced environmental impact
These new batteries require fewer materials to build them, which could reduce the environmental impact of mining materials for EV batteries significantly. Currently, many environmentalists are concerned about the limited amount of rare-earth metals being used in lithium-ion batteries. Changing to solid-state batteries could make a huge difference and allow fewer materials to be mined.
The proof is in the pudding
We expect solid-state batteries to be the future of EV driving, giving these vehicles the desired power on any road. Although some automakers have made claims of power, charging, size, and performance, none have proven these things yet. Some things work great in the lab, but once they are taken into the real world, things change. Hopefully, these new batteries with solid electrolytes will be the future of EV driving, but that’s still unclear.
Will solid-state batteries be the future of EV driving? All indicators point to the positive, but there could be some hurdles that still need to be crossed before these new batteries are used in electric vehicles.
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