EV battery, charging developments

Issue #216, August 28, 2023

Electric vehicles (EVs) and more specifically their key component i.e. batteries continue to see development. Many traditional OEMs are shifting from the Combined Charging System to Tesla's North American Charging Standard, to leverage the charging station network. Subscription-based business models can be a solution for those struggling with the huge upfront investment required for e-vehicles, especially the large ones such as buses. Material innovations can help the trade off between 'energy cells' which focus on the energy stored vs 'power cells' which focus on fast charging. Toyota's claims on solid-state batteries can advance the technology if its performance is proven. Lithium-rich Australia seeks to become a key link in battery supply chain, attracting investments in mineral-processing facilities and building up a domestic industry. Chinese auto makers offer NOA or Navigation on Autopilot as a premium software upgrade to owners willing to pay for the experience. Below are some recent updates specifically on batteries and their charging stations.

The switch from CCS charging system

The most widely used EV charging plug was developed by Tesla. It’s known as the North American Charging Standard. Cars made by most other manufacturers use a plug known as the Combined Charging System. Many established automakers are switching from CCS to the North American plug, which will allow their owners to use 12,000 Tesla fast chargers. They will offer adapters that allow Tesla chargers to deliver power to cars with CCS receptacles in early 2024. Then, in 2025, new cars sold will use Tesla plugs without adapters. Cars built for CCS plugs will stay on the road for years, which means that charging stations will need adapters or offer both kinds of plugs. - New York Times

Subscription-based model for e-vehicles

Even though the government’s intent to roll out e-buses is clear, there could be bottlenecks in the form of high capital cost. For example, an e-bus costs INR 90 lakh to INR 1 crore, which is two-three times costlier than its diesel counterpart. A viable source of funding is, therefore, essential for the successful ride of e-bus business in India. Not just in India, but other countries too. Subscription-based business models can be a viable alternative, where customers pay the manufacturer a monthly fee that is flat or based on actual usage. - ET Auto

Energy vs power cells

With lithium-ion batteries, there tends to be a trade-off between how much energy they can store and how quickly they can charge. These batteries can generally be split into two categories: “energy cells” and “power cells.” Energy cells prioritize packing in as much energy as possible, which is helpful in extending the range of an EV. Power cells, on the other hand, tend to prioritize charging and discharging quickly, which is helpful for uses like the stationary energy storage that stabilizes the power grid. Materials innovations could help get around this trade-off. - MIT Technology Review

Accelerating solid state batteries

Leading battery material executives, who are witnessing breakthroughs in the development of next-generation “solid-state” batteries, are bringing forward their forecasts for the take-up of the technology, previously dismissed as too expensive and difficult to produce. The comments from the battery material producers who have visibility on technological development at various companies, follow Toyota’s recent claim that it had made a breakthrough in solid-state battery technology, which would halve the size, cost and weight of the units that power EVs. The Japanese carmaker plans to commercialize its solid-state technology for EVs by 2027. - Financial Times

Australia in EV battery supply chain

Lithium-rich Australia seeks to become a key link in battery supply chain, leveraging the EV boom to transform its economy. The country looks to attract investment in mineral-processing facilities. Australia is building up a domestic industry to supply EV manufacturers, with a goal of diversifying an economy long dependent on mining and fossil fuels. Battery material manufacturer Austvolt for example opened a research and development laboratory recently in Bentley, a city in the state of Western Australia. - Nikkei Asia

China's plans for autonomy

In the past six months, nearly a dozen Chinese car companies have announced ambitious plans to roll out their NOA (Navigation on Autopilot) products to multiple cities across the country. Similar to the Full Self-Driving (FSD) features that Tesla is beta testing in North America, NOA systems are an increasingly capable version of driver-assistance systems that can autonomously stop, steer, and change lanes in complicated urban traffic. This is different from fully autonomous driving, since human drivers are still required to hold the steering wheel and be ready to take over. Car companies now offer NOA as a premium software upgrade to owners willing to pay for the experience, and who can afford the premium models that have the necessary sensors. - MIT Tech Review