Accelerating the shift to electric mobility

Driven by strong regional dynamics, the electric mobility market is experiencing significant growth. Global sales increased by 33% in 2023 and continues to grow at 17% in the first half of 2024, so much so that today 1 in 7 cars sold worldwide is electric.

Two particularly dynamic hubs stand out in the sector: Asia, led by China but also Japan and South Korea, and the United States.?Asia is both a pioneer and leader, with undeniable momentum, nearly all of the sector’s production capacity, and an automotive fleet where the shift has already occurred. In the United States, the sector’s growth is fueled by both strong technological innovation and a regulatory environment that fosters regional progress. Europe, despite a recent slowdown in demand, has also made improvements. This evolution is notably driven by a 2023 European Commission regulation , which sets the goal of reducing CO? emissions from light vehicles to zero by 2035.?

In all these major hubs, there is a growing awareness of the need to transition to electric mobility. The industry is organizing, regulatory and financial measures are being implemented, but many challenges remain to meet user expectations! Countries must activate the right levers to facilitate the change. Electric battery models, particularly lithium-ion batteries, evolve year after year, and their performance is gradually improving. As Woldemar d’Ambrières , Global Market Manager Batteries at Arkema, points out: “The battery industry may be facing some challenges in Europe right now, but it is important to remember that electric mobility remains a promising market, still growing rapidly on a global basis. Electric vehicles are currently the most credible solution to achieve net-zero emissions targets.”?

As a key partner in the electric mobility sector, 阿科玛 works hand in hand with its major players to enable these advancements to happen.?

The electric battery is prompting questions?

Being a relatively new practice, electric mobility raises many questions among users, who are often still uncertain about its capabilities and need to be convinced.?Battery range is a major concern for users, as well as its charging speed, its life cycle and safety. On this particular issue, Arkema offers automakers a range of non-flammable materials and thermal management solutions to ensure a higher level of safety for their products. Price is also a significant barrier to shift to EV. Manufacturers like Arkema are working to develop solutions that use fewer but more efficient materials, improving battery performance, including energy density, and reducing the cost of ownership.?

With a wide and comprehensive portfolio of solutions, as well as a pioneering and global presence in all the sector’s major hubs, Arkema has many strong arguments to support electric mobility. While the questions are relevant and numerous, the answers provided by industry players are all the more ingenious! Let’s explore some of them in more detail.? ???

Battery range: a major challenge?

Whether to reassure users or enable manufacturers to produce even more efficient batteries, the challenge of range is undoubtedly significant.? The goal is to ensure a longer battery autonomy, exceeding the typical nominal range of above 600 km . To this end, Arkema is helping to develop a new generation of batteries: solid and semi-solid batteries. These batteries, as opposed to current batteries containing liquid electrolytes, contain a solid or semi-solid electrolyte. They thus offer greater autonomy thanks to their considerably higher energy density: in concrete terms, this means that they can store a greater quantity of energy. Lightness, safety, durability: in addition to their greater autonomy, solid and semi-solid batteries offer many advantages!??

Facilitate use by reducing charging time??

Closely linked to battery range, the issue of charging time is also crucial. If perceived as too long, it can even be a significant barrier to purchase for users. This is why manufacturers are setting ambitious goals: to be able to charge a battery to 80% in just 15 minutes . To achieve this, the industry must rely on the ingenuity of its players to find a balanced solution that shortens charging time without compromising the battery's lifespan. And Arkema is already offering solutions! By improving the battery's ionic and electronic conductivity, meaning by facilitating the movement of ions and electrons, Arkema’s solutions directly influence its charging time. These cutting-edge solutions are based on lithium salts and carbon nanotubes. In addition to boosting conductivity within the battery, they help maintain electrochemical stability.?

“Arkema adopts a strategy based on very high technology and is committed to electric mobility players, both to meet today's challenges and to develop tomorrow's solutions.” Woldemar d’Ambrières, Global Market Manager Batteries at Arkema??

Having a positive impact, from production to recycling?

?The battery’s life cycle is also an important aspect not to be overlooked: to this end, Arkema offers various solutions to increase the recycling efficiency of battery materials as well as their reparability. Manufacturers are indeed working to make their batteries more durable, meaning extending their number of possible complete charge/discharge cycles, enabling the recycling of certain components, and even making batteries repairable. On all these issues Arkema is a key partner in the market.? To improve recycling efficiency, Arkema offers tailor made hydrogen peroxide (H?O?) solutions, which act as reagents in the metal recovery process from batteries. These products ensure low energy consumption and a high metal recovery rate. They also have unique environmental characteristics, as their decomposition by-products are only water and oxygen.? To make batteries more repairable, Arkema is also developing “bonding-debonding” technology. “Bonding-debonding relies on the use of high-performance adhesives,” explains Woldemar d’Ambrières. “Our goal is to use this process to be able to separate two battery modules with a stimulus, in case one of them becomes defective.” This method, which would prevent replacing the entire battery when just one module malfunctions, could be a major step forward in improving battery repairability and, therefore, extending its life cycle.?

“We are a historical partner of the battery world,” specifies Woldemar d’Ambrières. “From the beginning, our approach has been based on collaboration, whether with other major groups, startups, or universities. We keep a close ear to the market and its trends.”? And to continue this positive evolution, the future of the sector is being prepared today! Arkema is working with its partners to facilitate the development of new generations of batteries, complementary to the lithium-ion battery.? Solid or semi-solid batteries offer improved safety and increased range. Arkema is contributing to their development through its partnership with the Austrian startup Proionic . Sodium-ion batteries, on the other hand, provide high power using a material more abundant than lithium: sodium. By becoming a shareholder in Tiamat in 2024, Arkema demonstrated its commitment to a more sustainable future and helped accelerate the development of this promising solution.?

The electric mobility sector is constantly reinventing itself; it is full of challenges to overcome, but also full of promises for the future!?

You want to discover more about Arkema’s expertise? Dive even deeper inside materials by reading the previous issue of our newsletter: Sport at heart, at the heart of sports .?

Would you like to find out more about Arkema’s solutions for electric mobility? Feel free to visit our website , or follow our news directly on our dedicated LinkedIn page: Arkema Batteries .?

Come and meet our teams at upcoming trade shows ! ??? ?

• The Battery Show India : 3-5 October 2024, India Expo Centre, Greater Noida (see the dedicated page from our website here )?

• The Battery Show North America : 7-10 October 2024, Huntington Place, Detroit, Michigan, USA (see the dedicated page from our website here )?

• Batteries Event Lyon 2024 : 16-18 October 2024, Centre des Congrès de Lyon, France ? ?

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