Research shows that solid-state EV battery cells are not always safer than conventional lithium-ion
One of the benefits of solid-state batteries is increased safety thanks to a more stable solid electrolyte, but new research casts doubt on that claim.
Solid-state batteries get their name from the solid electrolyte, which advocates say is less prone to damage and overheating than the liquid electrolyte used in conventional lithium-ion battery cells. However, a study led by the US DOE Sandia National Laboratory, published in the scientific journal Joule, see that is not always the case.
According to the study, solid electrolytes can still fail under certain circumstances, such as when a battery is crushed, punctured, or when increased pressure causes a reaction between the oxygen inside and the lithium.
Solid Power Battery
Research shows that when a solid electrolyte fails, a short circuit can cause temperatures to rise as high as when a typical lithium-ion battery fails. That may ignite surrounding materials.
Whether it has a solid electrolyte or not, any battery that contains lithium is susceptible to the dendritic spikes that recently forced General Motors to recall virtually every Chevrolet Bolt EV to replace the battery. , the study noted.
Alex Bates, a Sandia postdoctoral researcher who led the study, said in an interview with Science every day. He also says that adding a small amount of liquid electrolyte can “significantly increase performance while having only a small impact on safety.”
Excess energy Solid-state battery 40 amp hours
Had a serious boost to make solid-state cells mass-produced for use in transportation. So far they have only been used in some Bus Mercedes-Benzbut automakers have expressed interest in solid-state cells for future passenger cars.
Toyota may launch technology by mid-decade in a crossbreedingwhile Volkswagen said its investment in QuantumScape will create solid-state batteries for production electric vehicles.
Mercedes, Stellantis and Hyundai invested in solid-state battery startup Factorial Energy, while Ford and BMW car invested in the startup Solid Power. Samsung said in 2020 that it is developing solid-state batteries, but there is no clear indication of when they will be ready for mass production.
