The media have carried loads of announcements about solid batteries for at least a year. But when we study their reports, many are just about research in laboratories. A few mainline electric auto makers are promising to introduce the new technology. We ask, do solid-state batteries matter when there are so many gasoline vehicles on our roads?
What’s the To-Do About Solid State Batteries
Solid batteries do make great promises. Ytech News lists energy storage, safety, and long life among that number. Solid electrolytes are also far more stable compared to liquid flammable ones. But does solid–state battery technology matter in the greater order of things, despite these mainly theoretical benefits?
Well, let’s for a moment imagine our electric car charging fully while we have a quick shower and breakfast, and our phone battery lasting for several days too. This technology could provide the added boost we need to make renewable energy really feasible at night.
Perhaps we have become too accustomed to news of liquid-electrolyte batteries leaking, and causing fires in people’s homes. Does it really matter we are recycling so few lithium-ion batteries worldwide? The solid electrolytes in next-gen solid batteries cannot burn, potentially opening the door to a greener, safer world.
Why Can’t We Find These Batteries in Our Stores?
We can’t find these solid batteries in our stores, because what we described is still somewhere in the (hopefully near) future. You see, the interface between the solid electrolyte and electrodes is still not a good conductor of electrical energy. We just have to hope that battery scientists find a commercial solution to this problem.
That’s why we keep publishing breaking news about solid-state battery research. We are confident that someone, somewhere will find a practical answer soon. And that we will be able to share this solid battery breaking news with you, as soon as it happens!
More Information
New Conductor for Solid-State Lithium-Ion
