Super battery for electric cars: It should solve all problems
Created: 05/23/2022, 08:39
The solid-state battery is intended to eliminate all the weaknesses of electric cars.
But there are still many question marks behind the development of this super battery.
The solid-state battery is intended to take e-cars to new heights: vehicle manufacturers and their customers are expecting ultra-short charging times, maximum ranges, total fire safety and lower costs from the new battery technology.
But the race for the super battery is still open: will it come at all?
And if so: when and with which brand?
Solid state batteries for electric cars: the current status
Most recently, Nissan had caused a stir when it came to
solid or solid-state
technology: the Japanese announced in April that they would
start pilot production from 2024, with
the first series car coming onto the market in 2028.
The group sees itself far ahead in development and is demonstratively optimistic.
Solid-state battery: 30 percent more range with half the charging time
What is clear, however, is
that all major car manufacturers are working flat out on the super battery
.
VW's battery chief Frank Blume even spoke of an "endgame" in battery technology that every company wants to win.
In this race, the North Germans are working together with the US company Quantumscape, in which they also hold the majority of the shares.
The start-up is considered one of the most promising contenders for the role of solids pioneer.
According to previous announcements, the technology should be available
as early as 2025 , and at least one pilot plant could then start test production.
Blume speaks of a
range increase of 30 percent
compared to current lithium-ion batteries, at the same time the
charging time should be halved
will.
Both together could finally solve the range problem of electric cars.
No wonder other players like
Toyota
,
Panasonic
,
BMW
,
Ford and LG
are also taking part in the race.
They give dates between 2025 and 2030 for the start.
Solid state battery for electric cars: What is behind it?
The difference between the solid-state battery and today's rechargeable batteries is initially only a small one:
Instead of a liquid electrolyte, a solid one is used
.
The electrolyte is one of the central components in every battery and is responsible for transporting the ions between the anode and cathode, which in turn allows the electrons to migrate in the opposite direction, which ensures the current flow and ultimately drives the electric motor.
Solid-state batteries are already in use outside of cars, not only in electronics, but also
in commercial vehicle and small series construction
.
For example, the Mercedes Citaro bus runs on a special variant of the solid-state battery, which has to be preheated and is therefore not suitable for cars.
Solid state batteries are extremely fire resistant
Simply switching from liquid to solid has potential advantages: because while the liquid electrolyte burns as easily and quickly as the chemically related petrol, its solid counterpart
is almost impossible to set on fire
.
This could be a safety advantage, especially in the event of collisions between e-cars.
However, this would not mean much, because current liquid-electrolyte batteries for e-cars are now considered to be very safe.
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Solid-state batteries are still a thing of the future
Ultimately, it remains to be seen whether solid-state batteries will establish themselves in electric cars in the near future.
A lot seems possible between use in mass vehicles and exclusive use in luxury cars.
The sudden end for the classic liquid battery is unlikely to mean the market launch of the solid battery.
After all, the current technology has a development lead of around 30 years that cannot easily be caught up: it has proven itself in cars, materials and production processes have been tested and their performance will continue to increase in the coming years.
In general, the battery range is likely to become
more differentiated in the coming years
.
The scarcity of materials and price fluctuations alone will ensure a wide range of different battery variants.
In addition to the classic NMC lithium-ion batteries, there are already inexpensive iron phosphate batteries, and even cheaper sodium batteries could soon be added.
And finally the solid-state battery.
Which model is offered in which vehicle will then depend above all on the specific requirements and the customers' willingness to pay.
(Holger Holzer/SP-X)
