The urgent need to combat climate change by reducing carbon emissions is encouraging the automotive industry to take a cold, hard look at itself and transform itself from the innermost depths outward. Take EVs, for example, which have emerged as a powerful solution to address environmental challenges associated with internal combustion engines.
Central to the success of EVs are their battery systems. Predominantly made up of lithium-ion batteries, several challenges are brought up when it comes to bringing EV batteries to market, driving research into better alternatives which boast enhanced performance, safety and sustainability.
The race for better-performing and more environmentally conscious EV batteries has been likened to era-defining events such as the next gold rush. So, it’s safe to say, there are exciting things to come. But that won’t be without obstacles cropping up along the way.
Problems with lithium-ion batteries
“Under certain conditions, lithium-ion batteries are known to enter a condition called thermal runaway, a self-sustaining chain reaction of heat generation within the battery that leads to an escalation in temperature and gas production,” Mukesh Chatter, CEO and Co-Founder of Alsym Energy explained. Alsym Energy has developed a low-cost, non-flammable, high-performance rechargeable battery chemistry that’s ideal for the likes of EVs without using lithium or cobalt. “Factors such as overcharging, over-discharging, physical damage, or manufacturing defects can trigger this dangerous phenomenon. In extreme cases, thermal runaway can lead to fires or explosions.”
He continued: “An additional environmental concern with lithium-ion batteries is the leakage of harmful fluids that contain hexafluorophosphates and metals such as cobalt. With batteries crowding landfills, there is a constant flow of these fluids seeping into the ground, resulting in soil and water contamination.”
Is change coming for EV batteries?
As stated in MIT Technology Review’s What’s Next series, new battery chemistries for EVs are on the horizon and a manufacturing boost is happening thanks to government funding in the US and across other geographies.
This comes as EVs passed 10% of global vehicle sales in 2022, with this figure set to hit 30% by the end of this decade.
And thanks to policies in the US, where billions of dollars are being pumped into battery manufacturing and incentives for EV purchases or bans passed on patrol or diesel-powered vehicles starting in 2035 in some US states and across the EU, the ties of change are happening.
“Concerns about supplies of key battery materials like cobalt and lithium are pushing a search for alternatives to the standard lithium-ion chemistry,” MIT Technology Review’s report outlines, signaling a new hope thanks to investments and policy fuelling demand for EVs and their batteries.
Although changes need to happen, and fast, there are several challenges that stand in the way of shifting toward alternative battery chemistries. These include building trust in new chemistries and making alternatives more scalable, getting funding for in-depth research and finding ample resources to encourage this.
For example Castrol — an oil company that markets industrial and automotive lubricants which this year is celebrating its 125th anniversary — continues its pursuit of the cutting edge of innovation by investing further in its global technology hubs in China, Germany, and the Americas. It has also planned a US$60 million investment in a new, state-of-the-art EV battery testing centre and analytical laboratory in the UK.
It has already released a range of advanced Castrol ON EV Fluids as the growing market for electric vehicles will grow, but also co-exist with internal combustion engine (ICE) and hybrids. With this in mind, the brand aims to help ICE and hybrid vehicles be more efficient, while aiming to lead the way in EV Fluids.
“We’re developing more circular offers to help customers achieve their sustainability goals and exploring exciting new growth opportunities beyond lubricants,” Castrol’s CEO Michelle Jou said.
Shifting the focus back to batteries, Chatter added: “There is already an abundance of research on alternative battery chemistries. “The landscape is dynamic, yet the transition from research labs to widespread production is a gradual process requiring significant investment and time. With ongoing research and prototypes on the way, new batteries that can power EVs are not far from commercialisation. Cutting-edge technology and state-of-the-art methods are being used to constantly improve alternative battery chemistries so that they will soon be ready to become the standard at a time when they’re needed most.”
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"""Uhitaji wa haraka wa kupambana na mabadiliko ya hali ya hewa kwa kupunguza uzalishaji wa kaboni unahimiza tasnia ya magari kuchukua kuangalia baridi, ngumu juu yake mwenyewe na kujibadilisha kutoka ndani kabisa ya kina cha nje." Kwa mfano, magari ya umeme yamekuwa suluhisho bora la changamoto za mazingira zinazohusiana na injini za mwako wa ndani. Sehemu muhimu ya mafanikio ya EVs ni mifumo yao ya betri. Kwa sababu ya kuunganishwa kwa betri za lithiamu-ion, kuna changamoto kadhaa zinazozingatiwa wakati wa kuleta betri za EV kwenye soko, kuendesha utafiti wa mbadala bora ambazo zina sifa ya utendaji ulioboreshwa, usalama na uendelevu. Mashindano ya betri za umeme zenye utendaji bora na zenye dhamiri ya mazingira yamelinganishwa na matukio ya kuamua enzi kama vile msukosuko wa dhahabu unaofuata. Kwa hiyo, ni salama kusema, kuna mambo yenye kusisimua yanayokuja. Lakini hilo halitakuwa bila vizuizi vinavyotokea njiani. "Makosa ya betri za lithiamu-ion: ""Chini ya hali fulani, betri za lithiamu-ion zinajulikana kuingia katika hali inayoitwa kukimbia kwa joto, athari ya mnyororo wa kujitegemea ya uzalishaji wa joto ndani ya betri ambayo husababisha kuongezeka kwa joto na uzalishaji wa gesi,"" alisema Mukesh Chatter, Mkurugenzi Mtendaji na Mwanzilishi mwenza wa Alsym Energy." Alstom Energy imebuni kemikali ya betri ya bei ya chini, isiyoweza kuwaka moto, yenye utendaji wa juu ambayo ni bora kwa wapenzi wa EVs bila kutumia lithiamu au cobalt. <unk> Mambo kama vile overcharging, over-discharge, uharibifu wa kimwili, au kasoro za utengenezaji inaweza kusababisha jambo hili hatari. Katika hali mbaya, joto la kukimbia linaweza kusababisha moto au mlipuko. - Mtazamo wa ziada wa mazingira na betri za lithiamu-ion ni uvujaji wa kioevu chenye madhara ambayo ina hexafluorophosphates na metali kama cobalt. Kwa sababu betri zinajaa kwenye majumba ya taka, kuna mtiririko wa kila wakati wa maji haya yanayopenya chini, na kusababisha uchafuzi wa udongo na maji. <unk> Je, mabadiliko yanakuja kwa betri za EV? "Kama ilivyoelezwa katika MIT Technology Review ""What's Next"" mfululizo, kemikali mpya ya betri kwa ajili ya EVs ni juu ya upeo wa macho na uzalishaji kuongeza ni kutokea shukrani kwa fedha za serikali katika Marekani na katika maeneo mengine." Hii inakuja wakati magari ya umeme yalipita 10% ya mauzo ya magari ya kimataifa mnamo 2022, na takwimu hii imewekwa kufikia 30% mwishoni mwa muongo huu. """Kwa sababu ya sera za Marekani, ambapo mabilioni ya dola zinatumiwa katika utengenezaji wa betri na motisha kwa ununuzi wa magari ya umeme au marufuku ya magari ya doria au ya dizeli kuanzia mwaka 2035 katika baadhi ya majimbo ya Marekani na kote Ulaya, uhusiano wa mabadiliko unaendelea." "Hatua hii inahusu ""matumizi ya vifaa muhimu vya betri kama vile cobalt na lithiamu, na inaongeza utafutaji wa mbadala wa kemikali ya lithiamu-ion ya kawaida,"" ripoti ya MIT Technology Review inaelezea, ikionyesha matumaini mapya kwa sababu ya uwekezaji na sera ya kuongeza mahitaji ya magari ya umeme na betri zao." Ingawa mabadiliko yanahitaji kutokea, na haraka, kuna changamoto kadhaa ambazo zinasimama katika njia ya kuhamia kuelekea kemia mbadala ya betri. Hizi ni pamoja na kujenga imani katika kemia mpya na kufanya mbadala zaidi scalable, kupata fedha kwa ajili ya utafiti wa kina na kupata rasilimali nyingi kuhamasisha hili. Kwa mfano, Castrol, kampuni ya mafuta ambayo inauza mafuta ya viwanda na magari ambayo mwaka huu inaadhimisha miaka 125 ya kuanzishwa, inaendelea kufuatilia ubunifu wa ubunifu kwa kuwekeza zaidi katika vituo vyake vya teknolojia ya kimataifa nchini China, Ujerumani na Amerika. Kampuni hiyo pia imepanga kuwekeza dola milioni 60 katika kituo kipya cha majaribio ya betri za umeme na maabara ya uchambuzi nchini Uingereza. Castrol tayari imetoa safu ya Castrol ON EV Fluids, kwani soko la magari ya umeme litakua, lakini pia litakuwapo pamoja na injini ya mwako wa ndani (ICE) na hybrids. Kwa kuzingatia hili, chapa hiyo inakusudia kusaidia magari ya ICE na hybrid kuwa na ufanisi zaidi, wakati ikilenga kuongoza njia katika Fluids za EV. "Tunaendeleza matoleo zaidi ya mviringo kusaidia wateja kufikia malengo yao ya uendelevu na kuchunguza fursa mpya za ukuaji zaidi ya mafuta ya kuyeyusha", Mkurugenzi Mtendaji wa Castrol Michelle Jou alisema. Kubadilisha lengo nyuma kwa betri, Chatter aliongeza: <unk>Kuna tayari wingi wa utafiti juu ya kemikali mbadala betri. <unk>Mtazamo ni nguvu, bado mpito kutoka maabara ya utafiti kwa uzalishaji kuenea ni mchakato wa hatua kwa hatua ambayo inahitaji uwekezaji mkubwa na muda. Kwa utafiti unaoendelea na prototypes njiani, betri mpya ambazo zinaweza kuendesha magari ya umeme haziko mbali na biashara. Teknolojia ya hali ya juu na mbinu za hali ya juu zinatumiwa kuboresha kemikali mbadala za betri ili hivi karibuni wawe tayari kuwa kiwango wakati wanahitajika zaidi.