Next-Generation Lithium Batteries

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Today we live in a lithium ion world. That’s the chemistry that powers our phones, our computers, our power tools, our electric vehicles, and our grid energy storage systems. The only thing that it doesn’t do, yet, is start our cars (that’s still the domain of much cheaper lead-acid batteries). Navigant Research expects that the age of lithium ion (Li-ion) will continue for at least the next 10 years. Li-ion, however, is not the ultimate battery chemistry. It still has major limitations that will lead to the development of new chemistries to fill in niches and, one day, replace Li-ion entirely. Those next-generation chemistries are currently being developed in laboratories and R&D departments throughout the world. This article explores the areas in today’s Li-ion batteries that need improvement and the candidates to replace Li-ion as the world’s leading battery chemistry. Li-Ion Limitations Thanks to the excellent energy density, cost reductions, and safety profile of Li-ion batteries, the rechargeable battery industry is undergoing a renaissance today. Navigant Research estimates that in 2014, the world will buy 43 GWh of rechargeable non-lead-acid batteries, with 62 percent of those being Li-ion. By 2023, 10 years from now, the world will consume 185 GWh of those batteries. And the proportion of Li-ion will be even larger: more than 80 percent. In financial terms, that means that this market is worth $15 billion in 2014 and will grow to $55 billion in 2023. That’s a very steep growth curve for what is already an established Li-ion battery chemistry. However, even with such a successful market development, Li-ion has some flaws that next-generation battery chemistries are trying to fix. The most important ones are: Cost: The pricing landscape for Li-ion has changed dramatically in the last 5 years. In 2009, laptop computer manufacturers were spending as much as $1,200 per kWh for their batteries. Today, they spend less than $250 per kWh. Other Li-ion batteries using more updated chemistries that aresafer and more effective for applications beyond consumer electronics can range from $400 per kWh to $800 per kWh. However, that’s still not enough. For the electric vehicle (EV) and stationary storage industries to genuinely open up to batteries, the costs have to come down further. To make an EV that is cost-competitive with a gasoline car, for instance, prices have to drop below $150 per kWh. To do bulk load shifting on the grid more cheaply than with fossil fuel peaker plants, the $100 per kWh pricing threshold needs to be breached. Safety: The Li-ion industry has made great strides in safety since the days of exploding laptops. But progress still needs to be made. For instance, Li-ion electrolyte (usually consisting of lithium salts in liquid form) is inherently flammable, unlike lead-acid, which uses an aqueous electrolyte. Of course, there is no such thing as a safe battery; all energy storage is inherently dangerous. However, Li-ion chemistries are reaching the limitations of their ability to add new safety features. Durability: Batteries don’t have moving parts, but there’s still a lot of activity inside them, as ions move back and forth between the electrodes. All that movement causes degradation, which eventually leads to battery failure. Today’s EV batteries can reach a cycle life of 1,500 cycles before they start to suffer significant degradation (usually measured as the point when the lithium rechargeable battery go below 80 percent of their storage capacity). Improving that cycle life expectancy to 3,000 cycles can mean the difference between a battery with a seven-year lifetime and a battery with a 12-year lifetime. An even greater cycle life will mean that the batteries will have a significant residual value when they come out of the car. Power Capabilities: Today’s best power-intensive Li-ion batteries are nickel cobalt aluminum (NCA) cells, which are capable of frequent high-rate charges and discharges without damaging the insides of the batteries. However, NCA batteries can have insufficient energy densities. Therefore, it’s often necessary to combine the NCA with other chemistries to get a higher energy density. Having a power-intensive battery that also excels at long-duration energy storage would mean significant weight and volume savings for the device in which the batteries reside. If you are looking forward to a best lithium battery manufacturer,please visit http://www.kingwellbattery.com.They will supply you best batteries and serviece.