LFP Batteries and the Hyperloop Hype

The rise of the LFP battery

Electronics360 News Desk - originally published 10/1/2023

Lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery technology is an emerging favorite in the expanding electric vehicle (EV) market, particularly in standard-range EVs. Factors driving this popularity include superior safety, longevity, cost-effectiveness and environmental sustainability.

In 2022, these batteries cornered a sizable 30% of the EV market share from just 6% in 2020, demonstrating the growing appeal of this type of lithium-ion battery in the EV sector. The Asia Pacific region dominated the LFP battery market in 2021, accounting for over 34% of the global share. The second largest share is evident for North America, a region predicted to experience increased adoption of LFP battery systems through 2030.

In 2022, the global LFP battery market stood at $12.5 billion, a figure expected to catapult to nearly $52.7 billion by 2030.

LFP batteries contrast with other chemistries in their use of iron and phosphorus rather than the metals commonly found in lithium-nickel-cobalt-aluminum oxide and nickel-manganese-cobalt (NMC) batteries. The downside of LFP is that the energy density tends to be lower than that of NMC. LFP batteries also contain phosphorus, which is used in food production. If all batteries today were LFP, they would account for nearly 1% of current agricultural phosphorus use by mass, suggesting that conflicting demands for phosphorus may arise in the future as battery demand increases.

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What happened to the hyperloop hype?

By: Jody Dascalu | Originally published 10/8/23

It has been over a decade since Elon Musk introduced the concept of the hyperloop. Initially envisioned as a transformative mode of transportation capable of condensing lengthy inter-city commutes into mere minutes, the hyperloop faced a series of challenges both technical and social. Heralded as the "fifth mode of transportation" — joining the ranks of marine, aviation, automotive and rail — hyperloop was more than just a futuristic pipe dream. Its premise of near-supersonic, pod-based travel through low-pressure tubes offered the allure of city-to-city connections in mere minutes, potentially redefining our understanding of distance and time.

Yet, as the years rolled on, the fanfare surrounding the concept faced challenges, adaptations and evolving expectations. Prominent hyperloop developers have highlighted that the challenges are not just engineering-based, but also social and political.

Understanding the Hyperloop concept

The Hyperloop is a groundbreaking transportation system conceived to ferry passengers or cargo at near-supersonic speeds. This innovative mode of travel involves levitating pods or capsules that move swiftly through low-pressure tubes, thereby removing parasitic drag caused by atmospheric resistance and rolling friction. A hyperloop would conceivably reduce travel durations between major cities to mere fractions of time, even compared with aviation. Potential speeds of 700 miles per hour, or more, mean a trip from New York City to Los Angeles takes just four hours.

The Hyperloop concept operates within a controlled low-pressure environment. The tubes are designed to maintain an atmosphere at approximately 100 Pascals (0.001 atmospheres). The primary benefit of this environment is the significant reduction in aerodynamic drag, thereby facilitating the pods to achieve high speeds with a relatively reduced energy expenditure.

One of the core mechanisms to allow these high speeds without the interference of friction is levitation. The pods are not designed to touch the base of the tube. Instead, they levitate above it, primarily achieved using magnetic levitation, or maglev. There is no single established system for this levitation. The industry is exploring two primary maglev technologies.

In the passive system, Halbach arrays – specific configurations of permanent magnets – are utilized. As these magnets move, they achieve levitation due to the interaction of their magnetic fields with coils in the track. An alternative approach is the active system which employs electromagnets. The degree of levitation in this system can be meticulously controlled by adjusting the coil's current.

Propelling the pod forward within the tube requires a unique mechanism due to the environment and desired speeds. A linear electric motor is commonly proposed for this purpose. It is composed of a stator, which is laid out along the tube's length, and a rotor attached to the pod. The pod's propulsion is achieved when an electric current flows through the stator, generating a moving magnetic field. This motor system is not just unidirectional. During deceleration, it offers the potential for regenerative braking, feeding energy back into the system.

Friction is a concern, even with levitation. To further minimize this, air bearings are proposed. These bearings, leveraging air pressure differentials, produce a thin cushion of air, allowing the pod to glide almost frictionlessly. However, movement at such speeds does generate heat, primarily from the compression of air. Addressing this requires efficient heat exchangers and materials known for their high thermal conductivity.

Energy sources for the Hyperloop are a topic of ongoing discussion. Advanced battery technologies, such as lithium-ion or even future-focused solid-state batteries, are under consideration. The idea of integrating solar panels on the tubes is also common, as it would make use of the hyperloop's tubes ample surface area, at least where it exists above ground.

Given the system's futuristic nature, it is not devoid of sophisticated monitoring. An array of sensors continuously observes parameters like speed, pressure and pod integrity. Machine learning algorithms are poised to analyze this data, ensuring real-time adjustments to maintain safety and performance. Essential to the system is communication. It's foreseen that high-speed optical channels, like infrared or laser systems, will ensure rapid data exchange between the pods, stations, and central control hubs.

While the fundamentals of the Hyperloop's design principles are outlined, various elements, especially around levitation and propulsion, are still in the experimental phase. Multiple designs and approaches are under consideration, awaiting both technological advancements and practical trials to finalize the optimal methodology.

Key limitations

Perhaps the most notable challenge in front of most hyperloops is turning. As of today, hyperloops can only go in straight lines. The lateral G-forces caused by a 90° turn at 700 miles per hour or greater are substantial. To make this survivable and comfortable to human riders, the turn would need to have a radius measured in miles. Freight also is likely to be damaged. Or there would need to be a separate system and station to brake and reroute hyperpods, which negates some of the efficiency of the system.

Another practical concern is the energy required. The electrical energy to create a vacuum in a tube dozens or hundreds of miles long is extremely high. Also factor in the energy to support maglev and propulsion technologies. In many estimates, hyperloops are less energy efficient that a comparable high-speed rail system. In the instances where they make sense, the hyperloop terminals will be thousands of miles apart.

Finally, there is the practical matter of expense. Hyperloops are unproven technologies, with an extravagant price tag. Even in an era of bloated infrastructure projects, few governments are eager to take on experimental technologies that will likely exceed $1 billion. And hyperloop projects will need to compete with proven technologies.

Over the years, the hyperloop technology has achieved some milestones in its development. One of the initial breakthroughs was by Virgin hyperloop in November 2020, when they successfully conducted a passenger run, signifying a major step toward turning the hyperloop into a practical transportation alternative for the masses. However, after some financial setbacks, in 2022 the company turned its focus on cargo transportation, presumably due to the lower liability and safety thresholds for freight.

The Boring Company, one of Musk's ventures, was at one point tasked with developing hyperloop technologies. However, after technical challenges, the company has worked to develop loop technologies instead, and Musk has acknowledged that these are distinct from hyperloops, but remain a critical stepping stone toward a real hyperloop. Notably, The Boring Company has designed and operated a loop at the Las Vegas Convention Center since 2021. The system connects areas of the campus with normal tunnels, wherein autonomous Tesla vehicles transit riders. Las Vegas plans a significant expansion, with more than 60 miles and 60 stations, once fully realized.

The Boring Company has also put on annual hyperloop competitions, to see which organization or team has developed the technology the furthest. Technical University of Munich, Germany, has won this competition three times in a row. Last July, this team was the first in Europe to send riders on a test run. The process involved setting up a partial vacuum of ten millibars within a concrete tube using high-performance pumps. This setting was optimal for the trial, where the propulsion and hovering systems powered the manned pod through the test segment, ensuring no physical contact and minimal air resistance in an almost air-free space. A dedicated operations control center meticulously observed the ride, making sure that the certified test protocol was consistently followed. The two passengers on this trailblazing journey were privileged to be the first in Europe to witness what could possibly be the next big thing in inter-city transportation.

The current state of hyperloop

Hyperloop technology is not "dead" by any means. There is still active development, interest, and investment in the field. It is still in a relatively nascent stage, and its broad public deployment will depend on overcoming several technical, financial, regulatory and perceptual challenges. Like many ambitious technological endeavors, the path from concept to widespread adoption is not straightforward and will take time, collaboration and significant resources.

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