Emerging Electric Vehicle Batteries: Unresolved Inquiries to Clear for Future Advancements

In the pursuit of longer-lasting and safer electric vehicle (EV) batteries, researchers at the University of Michigan have identified key questions that need to be answered before the next generation of EV batteries can be manufactured. The batteries in question are lithium-metal solid-state batteries, which have the potential to double the EV range for the same size battery while significantly reducing the risk of fires.

Jeff Sakamoto and Neil Dasgupta, U-M associate professors of mechanical engineering, have been leading researchers on lithium-metal solid-state batteries for over a decade. In a perspective piece published in the journal Joule, they lay out the main challenges facing this promising technology.

The key question to clarify the challenges of production and use of lithium-metal solid-state cells is: How can the mechanical stability and safety of these cells be ensured given issues like volume changes during charge/discharge ("breathing") and thermal management difficulties? This includes addressing the cells' expansion and contraction, reliable cooling solutions, and industrial scalability of the battery technology.

These questions are particularly pressing as efforts are being made to bring electric vehicles to a larger part of the population. Currently, lithium-ion batteries are the most common power supply for the latest EV models, but they are approaching their peak performance in terms of the EV range on a single charge.

One of the main concerns with lithium-metal solid-state batteries is their need for a heavy and bulky battery management system. Without this system, there is a risk of onboard fires. By utilizing lithium metal for the battery anode along with a ceramic for the electrolyte, researchers have demonstrated the potential for overcoming these challenges.

The collaboration between researchers and leaders in the auto industry is essential in addressing these questions and moving towards the widespread adoption of lithium-metal solid-state batteries in electric vehicles. The answers to these questions could pave the way for a more sustainable future of transportation.

Emerging Electric Vehicle Batteries: Unresolved Inquiries to Clear for Future Advancements