The world of batteries is changing fast, and the ever-growing competition ensures that more and more experts enter this arena. Read on to know more about how the EV battery technology is changing for good.
The Newest Innovation
One of the newest innovations that can make
flat batteries a thing of the past is the lithium-ion battery nanotechnology
developed by The University of Queensland. This technology is good news because
it more than doubles the lifespan of high-voltage Li-ion batteries.
The team from the School of Chemical
Engineering and the Australian Institute for
Bioengineering and Nanotechnology (AIBN) have shared a battery that remains
stable for over 1000 charge/discharge cycles.
Talking about the innovation, Lead
professor Lianzhou Wang said, "Our process will increase the lifespan of
batteries in many things from smartphones and laptops, to power tools and
electric vehicles. We've designed a uniquely-grown atomic-thin functional layer
on the surface of a high-voltage cathode, which is the source of lithium ions
and a critical aspect that limits the cycle life in a battery. Corrosion in one
form or another is the reason that batteries degrade over time. This new
approach features a minimal protective coating at a scalable process, paving
the way for the deployment of these abundant high-voltage materials for next-generation
high energy batteries."
The professor also said that the
development of lithium-ion batteries with lower cost, higher energy density,
and longer cycle life was vital. He stated, "We're confident the
nanotechnology will have widespread applications across industry, including in
consumer electronics, electric vehicles, and the energy storage sector."
Battery Technology Race
It is a fact that the battery technology
race isn't just about electric cars, as the batteries power everything from
laptops to smartphones and even the power drills. Still, according to Wood
Mackenzie, an energy research and consultancy firm, car companies are leading
this race because EVs make up 80% of lithium-ion battery demand.
WoodMac says that lithium-ion battery
supply fell short of demand in 2021, and prices of battery raw materials also
jumped. The situation intensified in 2022. As EV batteries are costly to ship,
companies want to reduce transportation costs and decrease geopolitical risk.
The Future is Crystal Clear
As major car manufacturers want about half
their vehicle sales to consist of electric vehicles by 2030, the demand for
simpler, cheaper, and better batteries will only rise.
So, battery technology companies need to
make the most of the opportunity and ensure that car companies seeking to
invest in new battery plants get headed in the right direction.
For now, electric cars will likely continue
to run on lithium-ion or LFP battery cells. As a result, the costs will likely
spur shifts back and forth.
Though some battery technology
breakthroughs like solid-state cells are not expected anytime soon (maybe they
will take a decade), promising options like sodium-ion batteries are closer at
hand.
Companies investing in battery technology
are doing a smart thing. In the words of Marius
Foss, a Rystad analyst, "The importance of these investments cannot be
overstated."
Sources:
https://www.investors.com/news/ev-battery-technology-hunting-for-the-next-big-thing/
https://american-power.com/ev-battery-technology-the-road-to-a-breakthrough/
https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/cars/1590532/ev-battery-charge-scientists-double-lifespan