Development and rise analysis of solid-state battery
At the end of 2022 that just passed, news about solid-state batteries came one after another. On December 30, the relevant company stated that the semi-solid battery has entered the stage of engineering research and development, and it will be used in complete vehicles in 2025. Farasis revealed that semi-solid products have been mass-produced and loaded.
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Professionals in the industry pointed out that the competitive landscape of new-generation batteries such as solid-state batteries is far from being formed, and there are still new development opportunities for various market players.
Advantages of solid-state batteries
Power batteries have gone through more than 100 years of history from early lead-acid batteries, to nickel-metal hydride batteries, and then to the current mainstream lithium batteries, of which lithium batteries have only been developed on a large scale for more than ten years.
In recent years, with the rapid development of the new energy vehicle industry, the industry has become increasingly aware of the limits of traditional liquid lithium batteries. For example, the upper limit of energy density is low, which cannot eradicate consumers’ mileage anxiety; the overall battery quality is large; low temperature operation is not smooth, and there are safety hazards in high temperature environments, etc. As a result, the voice of solid-state batteries is becoming stronger and stronger.
From the perspective of working principle, solid-state batteries are essentially the same as liquid batteries. The core difference between the two lies in the form of the electrolyte. The current mainstream lithium battery mainly includes four main materials, namely cathode material, anode material, electrolyte and lithium battery separator.
Because the electrolyte is liquid, it is called a liquid battery, while the electrolyte of a solid-state battery is solid, and the separator is omitted. The reason why solid-state batteries are considered to be one of the directions of next-generation batteries is that they perfectly avoid all the pain points of liquid batteries in theory.
● First, solid-state batteries have a higher energy density. ● Second, solid-state batteries are safer. ● In addition, the solid-state battery has a wider temperature range and a longer cycle life.
Solid state batteries still need further research
Relevant companies are making frequent moves in the field of power batteries. It seems that the outlet for solid-state batteries is getting closer and closer. In fact, solid-state batteries, especially all-solid-state batteries, are still unable to leave the laboratory at this stage, and the road to large-scale application is long and difficult.
To measure whether a power battery can be mass-produced, there are mainly indicators such as energy density, charge-discharge rate performance, cost, safety, and cycle life. The laboratory research results of power batteries can generally achieve a major breakthrough in one or several indicators at a certain stage, but it is extremely difficult to achieve mass production only if all the indicators are met at the same time.
As far as the current technical status of solid-state batteries is concerned, experts say that no company has yet demonstrated a large-capacity solid-state power battery with comprehensive performance and cost comparable to liquid lithium batteries. When will solid-state batteries come out of the lab? The industry is striving for the earliest landing time.
Toyota, which has the most patents for solid-state battery technology, has repeatedly delayed the launch of solid-state batteries. It plans to achieve small-scale mass production of all-solid-state batteries by 2025, and achieve stable mass production of all-solid-state batteries by 2030. Based on the statements of mainstream car companies and battery manufacturers, the mass production time of solid-state batteries is basically around 2030. With the advancement of technology in the future, it remains to be seen whether solid-state batteries can be mass-produced as soon as possible.
The progress of mass production of solid-state batteries is unpredictable, and semi-solid batteries, as an intermediate product in the transition from liquid batteries to all-solid-state batteries, are becoming the focus of relevant companies. It is worth noting that semi-solid batteries are not disruptive innovations. Even if semi-solid batteries are commercialized on a large scale, it will not have a great impact on the existing liquid lithium battery materials system.
China needs to speed up solid-state battery development
Although the mass production and application of solid-state batteries is difficult and long, as one of the research directions for next-generation batteries, China’s industrial chain should pay attention. According to relevant requirements, by 2025 and 2030, the energy density of a single power battery in China needs to reach 400Wh/kg and 500Wh/kg respectively, which is obviously beyond the capacity of liquid batteries.
At present, China has obvious competitive advantages in traditional liquid lithium batteries, and power battery manufacturers led by CATL and BYD are in the leading position in the world. Under the current competitive conditions of lithium battery technology, Europe, the United States, Japan and South Korea have realized that it is difficult to surpass China, so they place their hopes on the next generation of batteries, so as to achieve lane change and overtaking in the field of vehicle power batteries.
Since 2017, Japan has mobilized national efforts to develop next-generation batteries, and solid-state batteries are one of the main directions. Experts pointed out that in the field of solid-state batteries, Japan is five years ahead of China. Japan has a big national plan, and the division of labor is also very detailed. China’s current research and development of all-solid-state batteries is still in the stage of fragmentation, and there is no complete national plan to promote it.
Industry experts believe that the new generation of power batteries represented by solid-state power batteries is an important field of competition in the future, and China should pay enough attention to it. Of course, Japan’s advantages in R&D and patents do not necessarily mean Japan’s victory in the field of solid-state batteries.
On the one hand, China’s current solid-state power battery research is not behind. Professionals pointed out that China has ranked first in the world in the number of articles related to solid-state batteries published in world scientific journals. On the other hand, although Japan is in a strong position in research and development, considering that China has the world’s largest new energy vehicle market, China is expected to overtake in the industrialization of solid-state batteries in the future.
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Development and rise analysis of solid-state battery
Professionals in the industry pointed out that the competitive landscape of new-generation batteries such as solid-state batteries is far from being formed, and there are still new development opportunities for various market players.
Advantages of solid-state batteries
Power batteries have gone through more than 100 years of history from early lead-acid batteries, to nickel-metal hydride batteries, and then to the current mainstream lithium batteries, of which lithium batteries have only been developed on a large scale for more than ten years.
In recent years, with the rapid development of the new energy vehicle industry, the industry has become increasingly aware of the limits of traditional liquid lithium batteries. For example, the upper limit of energy density is low, which cannot eradicate consumers’ mileage anxiety; the overall battery quality is large; low temperature operation is not smooth, and there are safety hazards in high temperature environments, etc. As a result, the voice of solid-state batteries is becoming stronger and stronger.
From the perspective of working principle, solid-state batteries are essentially the same as liquid batteries. The core difference between the two lies in the form of the electrolyte. The current mainstream lithium battery mainly includes four main materials, namely cathode material, anode material, electrolyte and lithium battery separator.
Because the electrolyte is liquid, it is called a liquid battery, while the electrolyte of a solid-state battery is solid, and the separator is omitted. The reason why solid-state batteries are considered to be one of the directions of next-generation batteries is that they perfectly avoid all the pain points of liquid batteries in theory.
● First, solid-state batteries have a higher energy density.
● Second, solid-state batteries are safer.
● In addition, the solid-state battery has a wider temperature range and a longer cycle life.
Solid state batteries still need further research
Relevant companies are making frequent moves in the field of power batteries. It seems that the outlet for solid-state batteries is getting closer and closer. In fact, solid-state batteries, especially all-solid-state batteries, are still unable to leave the laboratory at this stage, and the road to large-scale application is long and difficult.
To measure whether a power battery can be mass-produced, there are mainly indicators such as energy density, charge-discharge rate performance, cost, safety, and cycle life. The laboratory research results of power batteries can generally achieve a major breakthrough in one or several indicators at a certain stage, but it is extremely difficult to achieve mass production only if all the indicators are met at the same time.
As far as the current technical status of solid-state batteries is concerned, experts say that no company has yet demonstrated a large-capacity solid-state power battery with comprehensive performance and cost comparable to liquid lithium batteries. When will solid-state batteries come out of the lab? The industry is striving for the earliest landing time.
Toyota, which has the most patents for solid-state battery technology, has repeatedly delayed the launch of solid-state batteries. It plans to achieve small-scale mass production of all-solid-state batteries by 2025, and achieve stable mass production of all-solid-state batteries by 2030. Based on the statements of mainstream car companies and battery manufacturers, the mass production time of solid-state batteries is basically around 2030. With the advancement of technology in the future, it remains to be seen whether solid-state batteries can be mass-produced as soon as possible.
The progress of mass production of solid-state batteries is unpredictable, and semi-solid batteries, as an intermediate product in the transition from liquid batteries to all-solid-state batteries, are becoming the focus of relevant companies. It is worth noting that semi-solid batteries are not disruptive innovations. Even if semi-solid batteries are commercialized on a large scale, it will not have a great impact on the existing liquid lithium battery materials system.
China needs to speed up solid-state battery development
Although the mass production and application of solid-state batteries is difficult and long, as one of the research directions for next-generation batteries, China’s industrial chain should pay attention. According to relevant requirements, by 2025 and 2030, the energy density of a single power battery in China needs to reach 400Wh/kg and 500Wh/kg respectively, which is obviously beyond the capacity of liquid batteries.
At present, China has obvious competitive advantages in traditional liquid lithium batteries, and power battery manufacturers led by CATL and BYD are in the leading position in the world. Under the current competitive conditions of lithium battery technology, Europe, the United States, Japan and South Korea have realized that it is difficult to surpass China, so they place their hopes on the next generation of batteries, so as to achieve lane change and overtaking in the field of vehicle power batteries.
Since 2017, Japan has mobilized national efforts to develop next-generation batteries, and solid-state batteries are one of the main directions. Experts pointed out that in the field of solid-state batteries, Japan is five years ahead of China. Japan has a big national plan, and the division of labor is also very detailed. China’s current research and development of all-solid-state batteries is still in the stage of fragmentation, and there is no complete national plan to promote it.
Industry experts believe that the new generation of power batteries represented by solid-state power batteries is an important field of competition in the future, and China should pay enough attention to it. Of course, Japan’s advantages in R&D and patents do not necessarily mean Japan’s victory in the field of solid-state batteries.
On the one hand, China’s current solid-state power battery research is not behind. Professionals pointed out that China has ranked first in the world in the number of articles related to solid-state batteries published in world scientific journals. On the other hand, although Japan is in a strong position in research and development, considering that China has the world’s largest new energy vehicle market, China is expected to overtake in the industrialization of solid-state batteries in the future.
For more related articles, please refer to Toyota solid state battery, lithium ion battery electrolyte, hydrogen fuel cells.