Solid-state batteries, the revolutionary battery technology that has been waiting for!

The so-called solid-state batteries are batteries that use solid electrolytes. Compared with liquid electrolytes, solid-state batteries have a much higher energy density. If they are used in electric vehicles, the vehicles will become smaller and lighter under the same circumstances. Of course, we have always been thinking about electric vehicles that surpass the endurance of fuel vehicles and completely get rid of mileage anxiety. Does it sound a little exciting? So, are solid-state batteries really as easy as Toyota described? Toyota is not fighting alone. In the battery field, it chooses to cooperate with Panasonic Battery. Toyota's cooperation with Panasonic Battery is a solid-state battery, and it is in the form of a joint venture company that deeply binds its interests. Because Panasonic Battery is one of the closest suppliers to the mass production of solid-state batteries, Toyota must not let it go. A Toyota executive is full of confidence in the development of solid-state battery technology. He believes that 'we have entered a new era.' The development of solid-state batteries is far faster than expected. Toyota is about to take out the equipment at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. A new car with solid-state batteries. Toyota, which has always been humbled, is able to release such a large 'satelliteMoreover, the current technological progress of the power battery industry can only be said to be an evolutionary advance, and only when solid-state batteries are mass-produced can they truly be regarded as revolutionary. As we all know, a major technical bottleneck that plagues the development of power batteries is the energy density of battery materials. There are two distinguishing dimensions of mass energy density (Wh/kg) and volume energy density (Wh/L), but the core ideas are similar. The energy density of current mainstream battery cells can reach 250 watt-hours/kg or 600+ watt-hours/liter. We rarely see the display of volumetric energy density in the parameter tables of car manufacturers, but it is also extremely important when developing battery packs. No one wants the battery pack to be heavy and large, right? The volumetric energy density has soared by 70%. The solid-state battery we are going to talk about is the breakthrough point to solve the above constraints. The solid-state battery can increase the mass energy density by 40% and the volumetric energy density by 70%, which means that the solid-state battery is lighter, smaller, stronger, and safer. It also uses organic thin films and inorganic materials such as glass and ceramics. , The manufacturing cost will be lower. According to BMW's calculations, theoretically kinetic energy recovery can recover up to 60% of kinetic energy, which means that the process of starting acceleration actually consumes more than 30% of the electrical output, so it is very important to reduce the weight of the battery pack. On the other hand, in more and more modular designs, battery packs have become a modular part, such as Volkswagen’s MEB platform. The three-dimensional size of the battery pack and the space of the passenger compartment are trade-offs with each other, but also with the wheelbase. Space is inseparable, so the space occupation must also be taken into consideration in the core. The metal lithium electrode is the core. In current lithium-ion batteries, the liquid electrolyte acts as an inactive medium to allow lithium ions to move between the positive and negative electrodes. However, in the solid electrolyte, metal lithium can be used directly as an electrode, and graphite is no longer needed as an electrode, which greatly increases the density of lithium ions, which also increases the energy density. Just as all revolutionary technologies are accompanied by technical challenges, the road to solid-state batteries is not flat. Although solid-state batteries are good, the prospects are still not clear. Most battery industry experts hold a conservative attitude towards the development of solid-state batteries, even more conservative than Toyota. It is generally believed that solid-state batteries may not be installed in mass-produced electric vehicles until around 2025. on. At present, there is no solid-state battery that can compete with existing battery technologies in terms of comprehensive capabilities such as reliability, durability, and manufacturing costs, let alone eliminate existing battery technologies. Not to mention how to safely produce high-purity lithium metal electrodes is still uncertain. Correspondingly, the production of conventional liquid electrolyte lithium-ion batteries is almost without technical challenges. Large-scale mass production is being carried out all over the world, and the cost has dropped geometrically. Therefore, solid-state batteries want to replace conventional batteries in a short time. From a cost perspective, it is not realistic. Generally speaking, the author is optimistic about the development of solid-state batteries. Similar to all technological revolutions, the replacement of liquid electrolyte batteries by solid-state batteries seems a little out of reach, but perhaps the arrival of a technological singularity will be tomorrow. Disclaimer: Some pictures and content of articles published on this site are from the Internet. If there is any infringement, please contact to delete it. 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