Solid-State Battery Status

Solid-State batteries have been difficult to make but would have many benefits if they are mass-produced.

* faster charging times
* increase energy density up to 2 to 8 times
* Range of 500-800 km
* 1 liter per kwh versus 4 liters per kwh in a current Tesla Model 3
* no fire risk and no toxic chemicals

They are currently 8 times more expensive than lithium-ion batteries ($800 per kwh vs $100 per kwh). In 2026, they could still be 8 times more expensive ($400 per kwh vs $50 per kwh).
The energy density of lithium-ion batteries continues to improve. In 5 years, early versions of solid-state batteries will not be better than the best lithium-ion batteries.

Lithium-ion batteries operate at higher temperatures (80C) and there is work to get operating temperatures down to room temperature.

Solid Power, Quantumscape and Toyota are leaders in solid-state battery development. Solid Power claims they will have a 400 Wh/kg product in 2022.

LMP (France and Canada) company formed by Quebec Hydro has commercialized solid-state batteries in buses. Mercedes is building the buses.

Nature Energy – Processing thin but robust electrolytes for solid-state batteries

Mass production solid-state batteries (SSBs) need cost-effective processing and the integration of solid electrolytes of about the same thickness as the polymer-membrane separators found in conventional lithium-ion batteries. A review of the current status of research and recent cost calculations on SSB processing has identified as critical for future SSB design the need to capture the thermal processing budget and the stability of the phase of interest for oxide solid electrolytes, namely lithium phosphorus oxynitride, sodium superionic conductors, perovskites and garnets, in addition to the classic plots of Arrhenius lithium transport and the electrochemical stability window.

Transitioning to SSB oxide electrolyte films with thicknesses close to the range for lithium-ion battery separators could provide ample opportunities for low-temperature ceramic manufacture and potential cost reduction.

SOURCES- Nature Energy, Sandy Munro
Written By Brian Wang, Nextbigfuture.com