Solid State Batteries Getting Close?

[skyote]

I'm also curious what will be announced at Tesla's Battery Day in April.

https://insideevs.com/news/396468/hydro-quebec-goodenough-solid-state-battery/

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[Cactusone]

Watch Toyota.

 

[ajdelange]

There are two technologies here which can be confused. The first is dry coating in which the cathode active stuff is attached to the support without the use of solvents. Maxwell has been doing that with their super capacitors and trying to apply it to battery manufacture. This is what I believe will be announced at the coming battery day. Actual solid state electrolyte is a separate matter. I think that's a bit further down the road.

Dry coating is a big plus because it reduces battery production cost and environmental impact. Dry electrolyte is a big plus from the promise of higher specific energy and safety.

 

[EyeOnRivian]

Transport Evolved youtube posted an informative video on EV batteries including the latest with solid-state batteries. Here's a snippet from the video's description with the video link to follow: (Note: It's a long video. I had no problem following it at 1.25 speed.)

"... Euan McTurk from @Plug Life Television, who happens to be an electrochemist by day. We chat to Euan to find out the basics of how batteries work (and to cover some basic language) as well as to get an in-depth analysis of the latest solid-state glass battery being developed by Professors Goodenough and Braga. Then we finish off by chatting about some of the new battery technology he's super-excited about!"

 

[ajdelange]

Very interesting video. With respect to the "breakthrough" aspect of solid state electrolyte he goes to great trouble to make clear that while the Goodenough cell is indeed a breakthrough indeed it is one in the sense that it proves that a solid electrolyte is possible and that solid electrolyte cells have the potential to provide lots of benefits BUT that lots more breakthroughs will be necessary before we find these cells in BEVs. He estimates the 2025 to 2030 time frame

He also spent some time on Jeff Dahn (formerly at Dalhousie U;now with Tesla). His expertise is in finding ways to improve battery performance by discovering additives, that it, chemicals which can be added in small amounts to the existing formulations that yield appreciable benefit. It is for this reason that I expect battery day will feature announcements that Tesla's cells are better in terms of power and energy density, safety, cobalt use, carbon footprint and cost through a bunch of changes in process (dry coating, new additives, siliconin the anode....) rather than a major technology jump to solid state electrolyte.

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