The Economist: The race towards a superbattery

Old_Joe

Following are excerpts from a current science report by The Economist:

August 23rd 2023
Paul Markillie
Innovation Editor

Invented in the late 1970s, Li-ion batteries took more than a decade to commercialise, at first for portable electronic devices and then, in bigger versions, for cars. It is the Li-ion cell, not heavy lead-acid batteries or other technologies, that has made the electrification of transport possible.

Well, almost possible. Range and recharging times need to be improved before there is a mass adoption of EVs. The i3 could, in real-world driving conditions, manage about 250km after an overnight charge. Even though some modern EVs can travel twice that distance on one charge, many drivers are looking for more. This week’s Science section explores how increased range and faster charging times are coming with a new generation of “solid-state” Li-ion batteries. These should allow EVs to go for some 1,200km and be recharged in only ten minutes or so.

Carmakers started developing solid-state versions of Li-ion batteries because the liquid electrolytes that present-day versions contain are extremely flammable. This can result in those batteries bursting into flames. Solid-state batteries use solid electrolytes, which are non-flammable. This also allows a broader range of materials to be used inside the battery, enabling them to squirrel away a much greater charge in a smaller space.

Having overcome a number of technical challenges, a variety of different solid-state batteries are now being readied for production. Toyota, for one, says it plans to start making them in 2027. Nissan, BMW and Volkswagen have similar batteries in the works. Prototypes could start appearing in test cars within a year or two.

At first, solid-state batteries will be expensive and made in limited numbers as manufacturers look for ways to scale up production for the mass market. That means they are likely to start off in sports cars and luxury vehicles, for which buyers are prepared to pay premium prices. The price of raw materials, like lithium, will also have a big effect on costs. It could be sometime into the 2030s before solid-state batteries are widely available for family cars and city runabouts. But they will be worth waiting for. When these new batteries become available, EV drivers will finally be able to leave range anxiety in their dust.

carew388

+1

BenWP

@Old_Joe: thanks for this article. If Toyota do have such a battery that they can make as early as 2027, it does explain the company's apparent foot-dragging while committing to hybrids for the near term. Compare Ford's pushing of "Electric Now."

Old_Joe

@BenWP- Well, to me it looks as if there is more than one path to the future. I think that it's healthy to let this play out and see which way turns out to be the most efficient. There's even room for Musk in this- he's helped to push the technology and validate the overall concept.

Sven

One hurdle has yet to overcome, but I think it can be solved.

There is one issue that could hamper the production of solid-state batteries though — lithium supply. Solid-state batteries could end up using a lot more lithium than traditional batteries. Some research suggests that solid-state batteries could use five to 10 times as much lithium as current-gen batteries. There’s already a lithium shortage, so that’s a major issue.

So what’s the solution? Right now it’s hard to say. EV battery recycling could play an important role, but even then it’s unlikely we’ll be able to recycle enough lithium to supply materials for new battery tech.

https://digitaltrends.com/cars/toyota-solid-state-battery-technology-explained/

Toyota is very good of bring quality products to the market. Hopefully they will find other less expensive metals for these solid state batteries in 2027. That is one of the reason that Toyota Motors is one of the top holding in my oversea investing.