The Future of Solid-State Batteries: Is Semi-Solid the Rise?

The Future of Solid-State Batteries: Is Semi-Solid the Rise?The commercialization of solid-state batteries for electric vehicles is steadily progressing, but analysts point out that automotive giants might be at a crucial crossroads, having to decide whether to pivot towards another revolutionary technology semi-solid batteries.Solid-state batteries have been hailed as the "ultimate solution" for sustainable driving

The Future of Solid-State Batteries: Is Semi-Solid the Rise?

The commercialization of solid-state batteries for electric vehicles is steadily progressing, but analysts point out that automotive giants might be at a crucial crossroads, having to decide whether to pivot towards another revolutionary technology semi-solid batteries.

Solid-state batteries have been hailed as the "ultimate solution" for sustainable driving. Unlike traditional lithium-ion batteries that rely on liquid electrolytes, solid-state batteries utilize solid electrolytes, primarily composed of materials like ceramics. This technology theoretically allows for greater energy storage per unit volume, promising electric vehicles with safer, more economical, higher-performance, and faster-charging batteries.

Automakers have heavily invested in solid-state battery research and are actively partnering with developers to create their own solid-state batteries for mass production. For instance, Toyota aims to achieve mass production of solid-state batteries between 2027 and 2028, claiming significant breakthroughs in enhancing technology durability. These advances could enable their solid-state batteries to deliver a range of up to 1000 kilometers and charge in only 10 minutes. Nissan also plans to introduce solid-state batteries for electric vehicles by early 2029.

Despite the growing hype surrounding solid-state batteries, analysts remain cautious about their actual timeline for commercialization. One of the primary obstacles is the expansion that occurs during charging and performance degradation after multiple charge cycles.

Julia Poliscanova, Senior Director for Vehicles and EV Supply Chain at Transport&Environment, a European environmental organization, believes that the transition from pilot projects to commercialization of solid-state batteries seems to be facing hurdles. She points out that current lithium-ion battery technology has already achieved significant advancements, making it sufficiently good through incremental improvements, rendering exclusive focus on solid-state batteries less appealing.

Meanwhile, a new battery technology semi-solid batteries is gaining traction. This hybrid design combines solid electrolytes with liquid electrolytes, viewed by some analysts as a transitional technology bridging lithium-ion and solid-state batteries.

Max Reid, analyst at WoodMackenzie, an energy consultancy firm, notes that semi-solid batteries have already achieved "a considerable level" of commercialization in China. He believes that semi-solid batteries could potentially replace the demand for full solid-state batteries entirely and become the transitional technology for the next decade.

Chinese companies have made notable strides in the semi-solid battery field, including global battery leader CATL, alongside companies like Weilan New Energy, Qingdao Energy, and Ganfeng Lithium. NIO has successfully launched a 150 kilowatt-hour semi-solid battery with a range of 1000 kilometers. A subsidiary of Ganfeng Lithium also produces semi-solid batteries for electric vehicles, providing a range of 530 kilometers.

Poliscanova of Transport&Environment argues that lower-cost and innovative technologies like semi-solid batteries are receiving more attention and commercialization push compared to solid-state battery technology. She emphasizes that a range of 600 to 800 kilometers is already sufficient for everyday transportation.

However, not everyone sees semi-solid batteries becoming mainstream, nor do they all believe that solid-state batteries will be widely available in the coming years. Michael Widmer, Global Head of Metals Research for Bank of America Global Research, states that, in reality, as we talk about the electric vehicle sector, lithium batteries are still the way forward and likely to maintain their dominance for the next 5 to 10 years.

The future of both solid-state and semi-solid batteries remains uncertain. Automotive giants need to carefully weigh the pros and cons and make informed decisions to secure their competitive edge in the electric vehicle landscape.

Key Takeaways from the article:

• Solid-state batteries are viewed as the future battery technology for electric vehicles but face technical challenges and commercialization hurdles.

• Semi-solid batteries, as a transitional technology, have already been successfully commercialized by several Chinese companies and may become the mainstream technology for the next decade.

• Despite uncertainties surrounding the future of both solid-state and semi-solid batteries, lithium batteries remain the dominant technology in the electric vehicle sector currently.

• Automotive giants need to weigh the pros and cons and make informed decisions to secure their competitive advantage in the electric vehicle landscape.

Additional Considerations:

• Cost and production scale of both solid-state and semi-solid batteries are significant considerations.

• Automakers need to collaborate closely with battery manufacturers to co-develop new battery technologies.

• Government policies and investments will also influence the research and development, and adoption of battery technologies.

In conclusion, the future of solid-state and semi-solid batteries is filled with both challenges and opportunities. Automotive giants need to carefully weigh the pros and cons and make informed decisions to secure their competitive edge in the electric vehicle landscape.