Solid State Batteries Can Make EVs More Useful

An EV’s battery pack determines the entire vehicle’s usefulness during its lifetime. Traditional lithium-ion cells are the chosen option today because of various benefits that they offer. However, they also exhibit certain flaws that have slowed the overall electric vehicle adoption rate.

These batteries operate within a narrow temperature window to ensure optimal operation. They also contain a liquid electrolyte, which can cause unwanted side reactions to occur during operation. This can lead to deterioration of the electrodes and other parts of the battery. The liquid electrolyte is also flammable, which can pose a hazard if the battery is punctured.

Solid state batteries are considered the next evolutionary step in EV technology because they offer several advantages over current options. They use a solid electrolyte instead of a liquid one, which makes them safer and more versatile when used in an electric vehicle.

They have a high energy density, which means they offer more power by occupying the same amount of space, allowing for longer range on a single charge. They can also be built to be lighter than regular batteries which reduces the overall weight. This in turn allows for better maneuverability and more cargo space for said EV.

Solid state batteries have high thermal stability that helps them operate at different temperature extremes without affecting performance. They also offer better conductivity, which helps them regain close to a full charge in a matter of minutes.

Shorter charging times and longer ranges solve two major problems that are affecting the rate of EV adoption. In theory, solid state batteries can make EVs as practical as regular internal combustion engine vehicles.

Toyota and Idemitsu are working hard to churn out solid state batteries for EVs by 2027 and 2028. Honda is also looking into mass manufacturing of these batteries for their own vehicles. However, the reason it has not become a reality yet is due to several hurdles that have yet to be overcome.

Traditional lithium-ion batteries use a liquid electrolyte that can be produced easily and operate for many years without affecting overall performance. With solid state batteries, their electrolyte has to be fabricated in a certain way to ensure the ions can flow easily.

Another issue facing a solid-state electrolyte is the formation of dendrites. When this type of battery is recharged, the lithium ions move back from the cathode to the anode. Once they reach, bumps form on the anode’s surface called dendrites. During discharge, the lithium-ions leave the anode causing small pits to occur in those places.

These continued cycles cause the dendrites to take root throughout the electrolyte and cause further damage leading to short circuiting of the anode and cathode. That’s why many companies are looking at various materials or adding several extra layers to the fabrication of the electrolyte to solve this problem.

Once a solution is found for this glaring flaw, we should start seeing more solid-state batteries in future EVs. They won’t have thermal runaway issues to deal with, can be charged in mere minutes and travel much further on a single charge than current electric vehicles. As such, this should help them to displace traditional ICE vehicles in the near future.