TAIPEI. As electric vehicle (EV) development becomes a global effort, batteries that play a vital role to EVs’ cost-performance ratios are a focus to manufacturers with ambitions to expand in the EV market…
Taiwan’s battery industry may not be backed by well-known brands and abundant natural resources. Nevertheless, a large part of Taiwan-based battery suppliers have been assembling battery modules for Taiwan’s ICT industry. For example, Simplo, Dynapack and Celxpert with a long-term focus on manufacturing battery modules for consumer electronics such as notebook only started to set foot in EV battery solutions in recent years…
Batteries for future EV applications are expected to feature higher energy density, faster charging and discharging time, lighter weight and friendlier costs. Whether lithium-ion batteries and LFP batteries can maintain their leading positions at the moment in the EV market still remains to be seen…
Most manufacturers have high hopes for solid-state batteries to replace lithium-ion batteries. Solid-state batteries use solid electrolyte instead of liquid one to significantly reduce the risks of short circuits and accidents. By packing higher-power anode and cathode, solid-state batteries also enable higher energy density, allowing them to outperform ternary lithium-ion batteries in terms of charging time, working temperature and cell longevity.
In view of the multiple benefits of solid-state batteries, Toyota, Volkswagen, Nissan and GM are all engaging in the development of solid-state batteries. Foxconn, the initiator of the MIH Open Platform Alliance, reiterated its plans to introduce demo solid-state battery products by year-end 2021 and launch commercialized solid-state batteries by 2024…
It will be difficult to catch up with or compete against international manufacturers that have long been devoted to lithium-ion battery development if Taiwan only now starts to build its own patent portfolio from scratch. Taiwan should also seek joint development opportunities from international manufacturers. By leveraging Taiwan’s accumulated experience and technological strength in the ICT sector to help expand the applications for solid-state batteries, Taiwan-based battery suppliers still have a shot at establishing market presence.
Source: DIGITIMES (by Ninelu Tu) Read The Article
PSR Analysis: Taiwan is forging an important path forward in the development of EV batteries by exploring technologies that can compete with the lithium-ion batteries currently on the market. Companies with prior experience manufacturing cells for hi-tech communications companies are finding opportunities in the EV sphere, and are using a combination of experience, technical expertise, and ingenuity to catch up relatively quickly.
A key aspect of this advancement is the focus on solid-state batteries. The potential for solid-state batteries to outperform lithium-ion batteries in terms of energy density, longevity, charge time, cost and safety makes this juice worth the squeeze. Cooperative efforts now underway further improve the chances for success on both technologically and financially.
Foxconn’s MIH Open Platform will engage hundreds of companies in the expansion of EV production. But it is their work on solid-state batteries, as well as that being carried out by Pro-Logium and other Taiwanese companies that may bring us into a new era that has the greatest impact on adoption of EVs far beyond Taiwan’s borders. PSR
Erik Martin is Director–Asia Region for Power Systems Research
