Solid State Battery Technology and its Impact on the Transportation Industry

It’s the “holy grail” of battery tech for its energy density (less weight and volume for same energy), recharge rates and lifespan so every single company is researching it, not just the two mentioned. Most are partnering with battery manufactures like CATL, Panasonic, etc while Toyota seems to be going it alone.

I’m hopeful for its commercialization but so many promises with new tech never come to pass. The good news is there is solid state batteries already and Toyotas claiming a major breakthrough with commercialization plans means this is happening - as a company they do not overpromise.

 

That would be amazing and a total game changer if those numbers are legit.

 

We will need to massively upgrade are grid. Needed for the last 20 years. I expect Biden will have an announcement wrt to this soon but the regressives will block it.

 

Sounds good on paper, but SiO2 is becoming a scarce resource thanks to it being used in an ever expanding Chip and solar panel industry. Nothing new here, most chip manufacturers have known this for decades, but in order to make semiconductors you need sand with 95%+ SiO2, and that is becoming very difficult to find.

 

Regressives.... love it!

 

From what I just googled, SIO2 is the most abundant compound in the earths crust, so I'm not so sure where you are getting that it is rare.

 

Actually Iron is if we are talking about the entire ball we call earth. The sand you find in your backyard is not pure enough to make semiconductors. Its another reason we need fusion, as power is required to refine materials as more of the globe goes from 3rd world to 1st.

 

Add better safety profile to the pro list.

Add cost to the con list. I do think we'll see them as standard eventually, but I wouldn't put off a purchase to waiting for it.

I'd also point out that the 900 mile range numbers are dumb. No one needs 900 miles of range. Efficiencies and cost will all improve as will charge times.

 

The numbers alone are kind of dumb since that completely depends on the vehicle. I don’t think a 900 mile range truck would be stupid though. Generally you only charge 20-80% on the trips to maximize charging rate and prevent damage to the batteries. That would leave 540 miles of range which is quite good. But if you’re towing a trailer that will cut in half meaning you have 270 miles of range per charge on the road. Seems like a good “convenience” range if not necessary.

 

Agreed. My post was light on reasoning.

With current chemistries, a 900 mile range is cost and weight prohibitive. As chemistries improve, I believe we'll continue to see faster and faster charge rates to go along wiith increased energy density - which would keep the 900 mile battery cost and weight somewhat prohibitive. My full size 1/2 ton truck "only" has a 600 mile range...

Point being, I think charging times will be the game changer and the key to marketing as we see improvements. Right now they're trying to kill range anxiety with big range numbers, but I think just getting to like 400 miles is more than enough., I see them beating anxiety with charging times from there.

 

That is probably a best case range. Real world worst case ranges could be about half of that. So if worst case is 450 miles, that is better than most cars, so that would be a breakthrough.

 

Any thoughts on Quantumscape’s tech?

They been working with VW and have delivered prototypes and are looking to being mass production.

 

QS folks will tell you it's the best. Until they're viable, nobody really knows. Then how long till they're cost effective?

EDIT: to add they are still over 90% off their 2021 highs, largely tracking the whole EV market