Innovations and ideas: Powering the future of EVs

As the world becomes known to the advantages of sustainable mobility, innovations in EV battery technology continue to grow at an impressive rate. These advancements are taking a centre-stage in the EV sector. Battery manufacturers and EV producers are primarily working on increasing battery energy density and fast charging features. They are also closely observing technological developments to boost the longevity of a battery and ease the recycling so that people can overcome the hesitation and resistance regarding EV adoption.?

A 2023 report by McKinsey & Co suggested that the global battery demand is projected to exponentially increase from 700 GWh in 2022 to a massive 4.7 TWh in 2030 driven by the innovations in the mobility sector. With India joining the global race to set itself as a prominent leader in the EV ecosystem, it is welcoming innovations to boost battery production to cater to the evolving requirements of the sector.??

Everyone is eyeing on battery innovations to improve EV performance, cut down costs, and eliminate dependence on scant materials. The ideal battery will be made of low-cost, materials that are lightweight and flexible enough to allow vehicle design innovations. It will charge in lesser time, provide longer driving distance to overcome range issues, and most important, be safe to operate — and boost widespread EV adoption.?

But the vision possible? Researchers haven’t yet invented a battery that does cater to our every need, but they’re making progress. Some new ideas are coming onto the market soon, others this decade, and even more are in the infant stages of development.?

What’s inside an EV battery?

Electrochemical batteries have three essential components: the cathode (positive electrode), the anode (negative electrode), and an electrolyte that acts as a catalyst. Electrons flow between the electrodes, passing through the electrolyte, to create an electric current. All three components offer many opportunities for improvement to increase the efficiency of the battery.?

At present, Ev batteries are dominated by lithium-ion batteries, which have cathodes made up of lithium mixed with other metals. In Europe and the US, the most common and accepted is a blend of nickel, manganese, and cobalt (NMC) or nickel, manganese, cobalt, and aluminium (NMCA). Anodes are mostly made of graphite. The major drawback of these batteries and the main reason producers are looking for new battery chemistries— are cost and scarcity of the primary minerals, limitations in energy density, temperature sensitivity and safety issues.?

Innovations and trends in battery technology?

Increasing demand for Lion-batteries: With a rise in demand for EVs across commercial and personal vehicle sectors, the demand for lithium-ion batteries will witness a sharp jump. Currently, lithium-ion batteries are one of the most coveted and easy technologies for their energy density and use case. In the upcoming years, more innovations are expected in the battery type’s energy density, charging speed, and overall safety innovations that help improve their performance.?

New Lithium-sulphur batteries: Lithium-sulphur batteries are known for their high energy density and relatively lower production cost. In fact, when compared to lithium-ion batteries, the sulphur alternatives came out to be more sustainable. With researchers looking to overcome prevalent battery stability and life cycle issues, advanced lithium-sulphur batteries could emerge as a practical solution in the coming years.?

Solid-state batteries with more density: At present, one of the most positive and promising battery technology innovations that could actually revolutionize the world of electric vehicles has to be solid-state batteries. These batteries use solid electrolytes, eliminating the whole risk of leakage. In turn, this feature increase safety features and makes them more efficient. These new-generation batteries are also said to offer high energy density, allowing more energy storage in compact and lighter packages. This technological advancement could enhance EV performance by facilitating longer driving ranges and ensuring fast charging.?

Silicon anode batteries for high storage: These batteries are increasingly becoming popular as they can store way more energy as compared to graphite anodes. Silicon having more energy density, allows to store more energy per cell. This new-generation battery technology can help in increasing the driving range of electric vehicles. However, one issue with these batteries is that they tend to expand and contract during the charging, which poses danger of the anode to break down with use. Hence, more study is required to make this innovation more viable.?

Recycling of batteries: Urban mining could emerge as a profitable proposition as the process allows high purity extraction of metals at lower Capex than mining. Today, more battery recycle businesses are trying to set themselves as urban miners and working to reuse batteries. This, on the other hand, is creating a secondary market for the components. With the Indian government trying to localize cell production by implementing many policies, the battery recycling sector can gain recognition over time. In addition, EV companies which aim to promote closed loop recycling could accelerate the growth of this sector.?

Inflow of investment in battery trading: In the recent years, the battery-swapping sector of the industry observed an inflow of capital primarily due to its value proposition and long-term potential to expand. More investors, including leading EV players, are continuously recognizing the need to invest in the charging infrastructure. With the collaborative efforts, innovations in battery trading are bound to become usual in this segment.?

Prospects of EV battery technology?

The industry is still at an infant stage and is faced with several issues when it comes to an efficient supply chain. To achieve the EV targets set for 2030, the battery segment needs to now work more rapidly.??

Since EV batteries make up nearly 50%-70% of an EV’s cost, cutting the cost of production and price could make EVs more affordable and attractive for the public.??

The future calls for a more active approach toward R&D, backed by capital investment to boost the growth of advance batteries and better EV adoption.?