The Basic Operation of a Lithium-Ion Battery

The basic operation of a involves a positive electrode on one side, a negative electrode on the other, and a barrier in between that prevents these electrodes from contacting each other. This layer allows lithium ions through but not electrons, making it an insulator. This is all submerged in a liquid electrolyte. Lithium ions are excellent electron donors and work hard to give away their single electron on their outer shell. The flow of electrons around this battery produces the electric current.

The Problems with Lithium-Ion Batteries

Traditionally, lithium-based batteries use liquid electrolytes, but there have been several problems with this technology. The first problem is that they have to be large in size to power something as big as a car or truck. They also have several safety issues, as they can swell when subjected to a dramatic rise in temperature, or if squeezed too hard, they can leak. These issues are not ideal when implemented into a vehicle that carries passengers and can produce high temperatures. Liquid electrolytes are also flammable substances known to cause several fires in various EV models. Also, conventional lithium-ion batteries are slow to charge and have a short lifespan. These reasons show that the automotive industry only ever used lithium-ion batteries as a stopgap until they developed something more robust and long-lasting. While these batteries have produced remarkable results, developers will create a superior version to take their place, as with all evolving technology. Enter the solid-state battery.

The Solid-State Battery

The solid-state battery has the same basic principle as the lithium-ion battery, with one difference. It houses solid electrolytes rather than liquid ones. Along with removing liquid electrolytes, solid-state batteries also do not use a metal oxide like lithium-ion batteries. Instead, it uses numerous thin layers of solid electrolytes, which transfer the lithium ions between the negatively and positively charged electrodes. Previously, manufacturers only installed these batteries in small electronic devices like pacemakers.

The Advantage of Solid-State Batteries

When comparing a traditional lithium-ion battery and a solid-state battery of the same size, the solid-state battery can store more energy. When implemented into an EV, it will give the driver longer charge times before stopping to recharge their car. Also, due to this higher density, solid-state batteries should charge quicker than their lithium-ion counterpart, which makes electric vehicles more convenient. Solid-state batteries also weigh significantly less than lithium-ion ones. The weight of has always been a concern. In a collision, the damage to the other car could be worse than if two traditional combustion engine vehicles collided, which will resolve that worry. Also, removing the liquid electrolytes, known as flammable substances, means that they are a safer alternative and will not pose a fire risk to any passengers within the vehicle where the battery is installed. While small devices have utilized these batteries for decades, developing them for installation in a larger mechanism like an EV is still necessary. Automotive manufacturers like Toyota understood how valuable this technology could be for their vehicles and have recently released several new models with solid-state batteries installed. When new technology is first produced, it can be more expensive as there is a lot of monetary investment, and many companies are desperate to turn a profit. This large investment may deter many manufacturing companies from investing in solid-state batteries. But since this technology has so many advantages, it is only a matter of time before they become the industry standard.

Ryan Clancy, Author at headlights.com

Ryan Clancy

Ryan Clancy is a freelance writer and blogger. With 5+ years of mechanical engineering experience, he's passionate about all things engineering and tech. He loves bringing engineering (especially mechanical) down to a level that everyone can understand. Ryan lives in Miami, and writes about everything engineering and tech at sites like Forbes, Engineering360, Clinked, MakeUseOf, Mechanical Engineering HQ, and many more.