In this blog post we provide some critical battery info on lithium-ion battery technology history, development and future trends as well as their challenges.

1. Application of lithium-ion batteries
2. Lithium-ion battery history
3. Future battery technology and challenges
4. Sustainability: Renewable battery energy storage

1. Battery Info: Applications of Small and Large Scale Lithium-Ion Batteries

Batteries come in all sort of sizes and shapes as an essential component in many applications. Some important applications for small lithium-ion batteries are:

• Portable electronic devices (smartphone, tablet, laptop),
• Mobile charging stations (power bank, portable power station)

Larger battery formats are used for

• Electric transportation (electric vehicles, trains, aircraft) or as
• Backup power units for battery energy storage systems (BESS) in residential and commercial buildings
• Battery farms to store solar or wind energy

All these batteries allow us to store energy efficiently and use that energy anytime and anywhere to power electronic devices. This enables the mobility and flexibility of our modern society.

Batteries have the big advantage of mobility, which allows us to use the stored energy in the battery anywhere without the need for a power supply. Battery-powered devices operate without a cable or power outlet, they only needed to charge the battery.

2. Battery Info: Lithium-Ion Battery History

Almost all the above mentioned applications for batteries are based on lithium-ion battery technology. This is because lithium-ion batteries are the most advanced rechargeable batteries on the market today. One important milestone in the lithium-ion battery history was the first commercialization by Sony in 1991 to power their video cameras.

Lithium-ion battery technology in the last decades:

Lithium-ion batteries are important in mobile electronics due to their high energy density. The energy density measures how much energy can be stored per volume or weight.

The performance of lithium-ion battery technology has improved continuously by new scientific discoveries. These discoveries led to substantial improvements in the latest decades.

Fueled by the superior performance of lithium-ion batteries compared to other battery technologies, there was a high demand for various applications in mobile electronics and electric transportation. As a result of this heightened demand, production volumes increased, and subsequently, prices dropped.

Lithium-ion battery technology for electric vehicles:

Almost every car manufacturer produces electric vehicles nowadays. Many of these electric vehicle models initially suffered from insufficient battery performance and had very low mileage compared to conventional cars with an internal combustion engine (ICE).

However, new car battery technology is focusing on lithium-ion batteries with high energy density, fast-charging and safety. This can be realized by weight reduction and improvements of the battery chemistry using novel electrode materials.

3. Battery Info: Future Battery Technology and Challenges

The huge demand for batteries challenges the industry to keep up with the manufacturing of batteries. In many applications the battery is the most critical component in a system and can strongly influence the performance and consumer price.

What are the challenges of future battery technology?

The instability of the supply chain for raw materials used in manufacturing lithium-ion batteries is one of the biggest concerns. In 2023, up to 90% of the electric vehicle battery supply chain relies on China. Geopolitical risks and price volatility are associated with critical elements like lithium (Li), cobalt (Co), or nickel (Ni). Globally around 70% of lithium is mined in Australia and Chile. The Democratic Republic of Congo represents extracts 75% of global cobalt and the majority if nickel comes from Indonesia. On top of that, there are concerns about ethical and environmentally acceptable mining practices.

Which countries produce batteries?

Only a few countries, including China, Japan, South Korea, and a few European nations, concentrate the production of battery materials and components. This production concentration can further result in supply chain vulnerabilities and geopolitical risks.

4. Battery Info: Renewable Energy Battery Storage for Sustainability

The consequences of the climate change urges governments around the world to replace fossil fuel cars with electric vehicles, which demand more lithium-ion batteries than the market is currently producing.

Another important application of lithium-ion batteries is in battery energy storage systems (BESS), used as backup power in residential and commercial buildings, and renewable energy battery storage (solar, wind) in large battery farms.

The energy conversion from renewable sources – mainly solar, wind and water power – can replace conventional resources, such as oil, gas and coal on the long term. However, without the technology to store energy from solar panels or wind turbines, the amount of available energy from the power grid is naturally fluctuating. Large battery storage units (battery farms) enable long-term energy storage and a stable power supply at any time.

The US Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy (EERE) lists electrification of transportation and clean power generation the most powerful strategies to tackle climate change.

Conclusion

• Lithium-ion battery applications include portable electronic devices and for electric transportation.
• New car battery technology improves mileage, fast-charging and safety of electric vehicles.
• There is a wide field of applications for batteries with a growing demand in the industry.
• The lithium-ion battery is the most advanced rechargeable battery technology on the market today.
• Lithium-ion batteries require critical raw materials that raise concerns due to supply chain instability, geopolitical risks and price volatility.
• Renewable battery energy storage can replace fossil fuels energy production and positively change the course of global warming and climate change.

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