Electric Cars - New battery technologies

Whilst the lithium-ion batteries used in many EV batteries today still have a considerable environmental impact, new technologies are being developed to both increase their efficiency and reduce their impacts. Here are a few examples:-_‍

_{Solid-State Batteries}

Solid-state batteries are poised to replace conventional lithium-ion cells by using solid electrolytes instead of liquid. This technology offers the prospect of EV ranges being increased to 600 to 900 miles on a single charge. They are also more stable,  providing safer operation because the solid electrolyte is non-flammable at high temperatures. They also open the door to rapid charging, with 0-80% charging in around 15 minutes, and provide better longevity, lasting many more charging cycles than the current lithium-ion batteries. They also need fewer toxic metals and minerals, potentially decreasing the carbon footprint of their manufacture by almost 40%. Major carmakers like Toyota, BMW, Hyundai, and Mercedes-Benz are deploying prototypes with commercial rollout expected between 2026 and 2030.

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Lithium-Silicon and Lithium-Metal Batteries

Lithium-silicon batteries usesilicon anodes, which boost cycle life and thermal stability while mitigating overheating and degradation seen in graphite anodes. These batteries are particularly promising for EVs due to silicon's abundance and environmental advantages. Meanwhile, lithium-metal technology swaps the graphite anode for lithium metal, leading to dramatic energy density increases, which could in future enable ranges of up to 500 miles with 12-minute charging times.

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Sodium-ion batteries

Sodium-ion batteries have a similar structure to lithium-ion cells, but replace lithium with sodium compounds. Sodium ions move between electrodes during charging and discharging, generating and storing electricity.

Sodium is widely available in seawater and earth’s crust, making supply stable and much less expensive ahd far more sustainable than lithium. This lowers battery production costs and avoids supply-chain and geopolitical risks linked to lithium sources.​​

Because sodium-ion cells run at a lower voltage, and sodium is naturally more stable, they reduce risks of overheating and thermal runaway.​ Sodium-ion batteries can also deliver more reliable performance in cold weather, where lithium-ion batteries may struggle.​

However, sodium-ion batteries store less energy per unit weight or volume, limiting widespread adoption for high-performance vehicles.​

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There could be a wide range of uses for sodium-ion batteries in the future, including grid energy storage, residential solar, microcars or small EVs, and portable devices where cost and safety matter, though they are currently less energy dense than lithium-ion options.​

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Sodium-ion battery technology is still under development and not yet widely available, with ongoing research aimed at improving fast-charging, efficiency, and cycle life.

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