It would be hard to imagine another technology remaining as popular as lithium, after so much bad press. First, U.S. airlines banned the Galaxy 7 because its lithium batteries caught fire. Then a Boeing Dreamliner nearly went up in smoke in a lithium battery fire. Why is lithium technology so attractive still, after there were over 250 cases of hover boards overheating?
Why is Lithium Technology Still the Industry Standard?
John Goodenough invented the lithium battery in 1980 while coaching students at Oxford University, England. The university declined to apply for a patent, and John has received no royalties for his work. Although the National Science and Technology Medals Foundation did award him a Medal of Freedom in 2011.
Being able to power the digital world for over two decades without royalties, must have saved the industry – and consumers – billions if not trillions. However, this does not really answer the question why is lithium technology still leading the market. The more likely reason is a lack of competition, we think.
How a Stack of Patents and Research Papers are Dormant
Lithium technology is still around because nothing else really compares. Otherwise, the lithium penny batteries that could kill children when swallowed would surely have vanished. None of the new technologies we reported on here, have come to market yet, although we have hope.
The answer to the pressing question why is lithium technology still around, is slow progress with solid-state batteries. Otherwise, surely the governments of the world would have banned the cause of so much toxic waste with such compelling recycling problems.
We may see a gradual move away from lithium-ion batteries in five years, when solid-state technology could finally compete commercially. However, the question arises whether manufacturers will take it up, after investing so much money in lithium.
Resistance to change may be the reason why gasoline has hung on to the market for over a century too. It will only disappear when America, China, and Russia follow Britain and France’s example of legislating it out of frame. But there are no signs of that yet.
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Preview Image: Lithium Repackaging
