How to build a long-lasting battery: to reduce costs or extend life?

Lithium battery technology is now rapidly promoting the electrification of the transportation and energy industries. However, the battery itself is often a commodity with a short working life. So far, the recycling and reuse of batteries has not become the main priority of the battery industry. Dr. Amrit Chandan, CEO of Aceleron Energy, a UK-based renewable energy developer, explained the significance of building a circular economy based on lithium batteries, and said that the design life of lithium batteries should be longer, and the purpose of secondary use should be taken into account . In the past 10 years, lithium battery technology has made significant development and progress, which is manifested in a significant increase in capacity and a 85% reduction in battery cost. The achievements of the battery industry are largely due to excellent technology, continuous innovation, and improved manufacturing processes from industry pioneers (such as Tesla). In fact, at Tesla’s first Battery Day held in September this year, the company’s founder Elon Musk described his vision for the future of lithium batteries, which is bigger, better, and cheaper, to be precise The cost will be reduced by another 56%. Aceleron’s secondary-use lithium battery pack, although people hope that the battery energy storage system will be larger, better, and cheaper. But it is necessary to fully tap the potential of battery energy storage systems from other aspects. In addition to reducing costs, the inherent value and long-term value of batteries must also be improved. In other words, more value must be obtained from each battery. For this reason, it is possible to extend the working life of batteries and make them suitable for secondary use. In the technical competition, battery manufacturers will develop the lowest-cost battery, but it has little effect on extending the working life of the battery (some even as short as 3 years). Although the cost of the battery is declining, the deployment cost is still high due to the low working life and the need for regular replacement. This means that when several batteries are damaged, the entire battery pack will be replaced and discarded, and these batteries usually have 80% of their service life remaining. With the vigorous development of the battery industry, discarded batteries will generate a lot of garbage and serious environmental problems, and accelerate the unsustainable exploitation of natural resources. According to the estimates of research institutions, by 2030, electric vehicle (EV) batteries alone will generate 11 million tons of waste. This approach will eventually pay a more expensive price, because the cost of replacing the battery whenever the battery is damaged is high. Therefore, a more sustainable new model must be constructed, which can extend the life of the battery, increase the value of use and reduce costs. Take the car as an example. If a car breaks down, people usually repair it. Because the upfront cost is too expensive, most people are unwilling to directly purchase a new car to replace it. But there are also people who buy second-hand cars, repair and upgrade them. This model can be used in battery design, manufacturing and ownership to reduce battery waste, provide more valuable energy storage assets, and support the development of a green economy by creating technical jobs. Circular economy can significantly increase battery life by designing battery technology to be repairable, reusable or reusable, rather than replacement. By re-adjusting the battery after its first use and giving it a second service life, the value of each battery can be further increased. This uses the principle of circular economy, which can extend battery life, bring greater value to battery technology, and reduce resource use and waste. More importantly, if the battery can be maintained and repaired, then it will be easier to adapt to the service and subscription model, that is, the battery product can be leased by the customer, and then returned or repaired, and leased to use other batteries. Repairing the battery at the customer site can also save time and cost for the customer, because the battery does not need to be sent for repair, and the customer does not need to be replaced temporarily. It also promotes local employment, because locals can receive training in battery repair and maintenance, just like car mechanics can repair batteries on site. Designing long-lasting and durable batteries is the key to achieving global zero-carbon energy. As the global energy storage market grows from US$59 billion in 2019 to US$546 billion in 2035, millions of blocks will be used twice in the next 10 years. battery. By combining circular economy and energy storage technology, battery life can be extended, and battery reuse is considered from the beginning of the design to reduce waste. People can change the mode of handling battery ownership to protect the environment and bring more long-term value to the economy. Therefore, batteries should not become a disposable technology, and the key to processing sustainable batteries lies in innovative engineering and processing techniques. Disclaimer: Some pictures and content of articles published on this site are from the Internet. If there is any infringement, please contact to delete. Previous article: There are 4 ways of riding that hurt the car. One time it may strain the battery.