Though battery-electric vehicles have made numerous improvements in recent years, they still have plenty of limitations. A solution for many EV woes, solid-state batteries, might be on the horizon.
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Next-Gen Batteries: What Solid-State Batteries Could Mean for EVs
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Solid-State Batteries: Critical Advantages
- Higher energy density: The amount of power that can be stored in a given size or mass is increased, meaning manufacturers can use smaller, lighter battery packs or cram in more range in the same space as today’s lithium cells.
- Improved safety: The chemical slurry in conventional batteries is flammable and has been blamed for many EV fires in recent times.
- Faster charging times: While it’s still too early to be certain, some experts believe a vehicle using the latest public quick chargers could get a complete “fill-up” in 15 minutes, and possibly under 10 minutes.
- Lower cost: Nissan CEO Makoto Uchida estimated solid-state batteries will come in at around $75 per kilowatt-hour initially, then dip to $65. Compared to the lithium batteries automakers use today, that could save as much as $8,000 to $10,000 per vehicle, making EVs “comparable in price” to gas-powered models, said Uchida. And other experts believe that, by 2030, the technology would actually make battery-powered cars cheaper while also boosting the benefits they offer.
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Automotive Manufacturers Bet Big on All-Electric Vehicles
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Good Timing for Solid-State Batteries
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