Electric vehicle sales are still sluggish in the West, compared to China. The pressures in North America appear to center on driving range, charging speed, safety, and sustainability according to the Arkema website. Our industry needs to confront, and resolve these challenges facing electric vehicle roll out, before we can move forward.
Other Impediments Facing Electric Vehicle Makers
Consumer reticence is also fueled by reports of electric car batteries overheating, and causing vehicle fires. When we add tales of unsavory mining practices in some countries, it is no wonder some consumers are holding back. None the less there is progress, good progress in many quarters.
While it may be premature to hang on to predictions of 50% market saturation by 2030, as Arkema suggests, we should not forget the following:
- Western governments are pouring huge amounts of money into electric car battery research. We report every week on innovative ideas flowing out of this strategy.
- Much of this work focuses on improving battery storage capacity, which is the key to alleviating driving range anxiety. This includes tweaking current technology, and finding a replacement for lithium-ion chemistry.
- But of course, at the same time, our battery industry has a duty to be true to the imperative of sustainability in everything we do. And so much effort goes into exploring organic alternatives.
- The biggest challenge perhaps, is recycling every scrap of used battery material, so we never run short of critical minerals. Batteries with lithium-ion chemistry are proving a real challenge in this regard.
And finally, there is the question of the impact of our industry on the environment. Many battery materials are toxic, while others are unstable, releasing poisonous fumes when they burn.
Despite all the above efforts, many challenges holding electric vehicles back are still with our industry. We must continue to persist in our efforts to create a better environment for all. This applies especially to the little children, who will inherit what we leave behind when we are gone.
More Information
Battery Self Discharging in Focus at Argonne
