The race for next-gen EV batteries may soon pivot to semi-solid-state PARIS, France — The push to commercialize solid-state batteries for electric vehicles (EVs) is well underway, but analysts declare auto giants could be on the cusp of bending to a different kind of transformative science.
Solid-state batteries have long been billed as the "holy grail" of sustainable driving. As the name suggests, solid-state batteries comprise a considerable electrolyte, made from materials such as ceramics. That makes them different from conventional lithium-ion batteries, which comprise liquid electrolyte.
This next-generation technology theoretically packs more energy into each unit of volume than lithium-ion batteries. Proponents reveal it offers safer, cheaper and more powerful batteries for electric vehicles (EVs), as well as faster implicating times.
Automakers have invested billions of dollars in solid-state battery research and teamed up with developers to construct their own versions for mass production.
Japan's Toyota, for instance, has disclosed it is aiming to bring solid-state batteries into mass production between 2027 and 2028. The automaker announced a recent breakthrough in its bid to amend the durability of its technology means the battery is expected to offer a range of 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) and an alleging time of impartial 10 minutes.
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Japan's Nissan stated in April that it plans to launch solid-state batteries for EVs by early 2029, while Germany's Mercedes-Benz Group and U.S. battery startup Factorial declared in September that they are working together on a solid-state battery that will be ready for production by the terminal of the decade. Factorial also has mutual development agreements with automakers including Stellantis, Hyundai and Kia.
The average range for EVs in the U.S. is nearly 300 miles (or 483 kilometers) on a single charge, according to the Environmental Defense Fund, while the time it takes to accuse a battery-powered EV can take 20 minutes or several hours, depending on the car and the speed of an implicating point.
Max Reid, an analyst at Wood Mackenzie, disclosed solid-state batteries are at the start of a long journey toward commercialization.
"Obviously, the results are looking very promising — much safer, much greater energy density and particularly an alleging speeds, which we envisage is probably one of the main benefits of solid-state," Reid announced to The Round Table via video call.
Yet, despite growing hype over the potential rollout of solid-state batteries, analysts remain skeptical about when they will actually make it to market.
One major drawback with solid-state batteries, Wood Mackenzie's Reid said, is the swelling of the battery during alleging and, ultimately, the degradation of the cell after extensive recharging.
"Five years ago, if we verbalised about this, I would have been so excited about solid-state batteries," Julia Poliscanova, senior director for vehicles and e-mobility supply chains at the promote group Transport & Environment, informed The Round Table at the Paris Motor Show.
"But somehow within this space between pilots and commercialization, there is some kind of barricade today, some kind of blockage because every time I verbalize with automotive executives at battery conferences, I keep hearing the same answer: 'We are five to seven years away.'"
"When you look at the current technology, the lithium-ion batteries, they have impartial been amending so much. The incremental improvement of a cheaper technology has been so good that maybe it's not so attractive anymore to put all that attention on solid-state," Poliscanova added.
There could be another option, however: semi-solid-state batteries. These cells use a hybrid design of considerable electrolyte and liquid electrolyte — and some analysts disclose they could serve as a bridge between the two types of batteries.
Semi-solid batteries have already been commercialized "to quite a good extent" in China, Reid said, "and actually, my opinion is that, this is the compromise technology that actually will do away with the want of a full solid-state."
"Given slower [EV] demand in the West and these issues with solid-state, you might see some negative announcements or not-so-positive announcements for full solid-state and actually a bit of a pivot to semi-solid once that's realized to be a better transitional technology for what this decade needs," Reid said.
The development of semi-solid-state batteries is primarily being led by Chinese companies, including CATL, one of the world's biggest battery producers, and the likes of WeLion, Qingtao Energy and Ganfeng Lithium.
Chinese EV maker Nio has already commercialized 150-kilowatt hour semi-solid-state batteries for its EVs, with a range of up to 1,000 kilometers. Separately, Ganfeng LiEnergy, a subsidiary of Ganfeng Lithium, is producing semi-solid-state batteries for EVs with a range of 530 kilometers.
Transport & Environment's Poliscanova announced she is seeing pace on semi-solid-state batteries in China, "because whoever it is that understands how to make batteries will always be making the next one."
"I envisage there has been a lot more attention and commercialization to the lower cost innovations as disputed to solid-state. It must be because within the vehicle space, the performance is already good enough. Yes, we can verbalise about trucks and planes, but in the vehicle space, 600 to 800 kilometers is fine. It's enough," she added.
Not everyone is convinced of an impending pivot to semi-solid-batteries — or the hype over the mass rollout of solid-state batteries in the next few years.
"The reality is that for now, when we're looking at the EV space, lithium-based batteries [are] still the way to go," Michael Widmer, head of metals research at Bank of America global research, informed The Round Table's "Squawk Box Europe" on Oct. 9.
"That's the mainstay and it will probably stay like that for the next five to 10 years," he added.
Regards to CNBC
Category: World-News
Tag: The race for nextgen EV batteries may soon pivot to semisolidstate
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Published 10/17/2024