Learn more about the latest in new battery technology and discover the next generation in battery and energy storage with expert analysis by Power Systems Research analysts.
Donald Trump has always pushed for more oil drilling and fewer regulations, left the Paris Agreement in his first term as president, says he hates “windmills,” has promised to scrap offshore wind on “day one” if he won the 2024 election, and calls climate change a “scam.”
And now that he’s won, this is a direct threat to the US’s pledge to reach net zero by 2050. After all, federal policy directly impacts the pace of renewable energy growth, especially when it comes to incentives and research funding
Donald Trump will push fossil fuels and undo renewable energy policies, but it ultimately won’t stop clean energy’s momentum
PSR Analysis: The clean energy market isn’t solely driven by US federal policy. Over the last decade, solar, wind, and EVs have become more cost-competitive and popular. State policies play a huge role too, and many states are committed to their own clean energy goals regardless of who sits in the White House. Only time will tell the true impact of Trump’s victory. PSR
Super materials trailblazer Lyten will invest over $1 billion to build the world’s first lithium-sulfur battery gigafactory in Reno, Nevada. The factory will be capable of producing up to 10 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of batteries annually once it’s fully online. Phase 1 is set to go live in 2027.
Lyten’s gigafactory will cover 1.25 million square feet on a 125-acre campus in the Reno Air Logistics Park. Initially, it will employ around 200 people, eventually expanding to more than 1,000 jobs
PSR Analysis: Lithium-sulfur batteries are considerably lighter than lithium-ion batteries and use materials that are more abundant, so they should have a lower cost than Lithium ion batteries and their widespread use could reduce the pressure on lithium supplies. However, they are less stable and have a shorter lifespan, so unless Lyten has resolved these issue, this approach could backfire. PSR
The push to commercialize solid-state batteries is underway with industries from automotive to storage betting on the technology. But while the technology has been taking longer than expected to take off, semi-solid-state batteries, which use a hybrid design of solid and liquid electrolyte, have been making steady progress toward commercialization.
The latest findings from Taipei-based intelligence provider TrendForce show that all-solid-state battery production volumes could have GWh levels by 2027. This rapid expansion could lead to cell price declines, reaching the $84-$98 level by 2035.
PSR Analysis: The benefits of solid state batteries (higher energy density leading to longer range, rapid charging, safety and lower weigh) are well known. If the costs can come down because of mass production, then this will become a significant game changer. PSR
Nevada Gets World’s First Lithium-Sulfur Battery Gigafactory
In 2008, batteries cost $1,355 per kilowatt-hour, and the goal of an $80/kWh EV battery seemed ridiculous. But today the cost of EV batteries is dropping within shouting distance of that $80 goal, pulling the total cost of EV ownership down with it.
The total cost of EV ownership over time, including fuel and maintenance, has been close to, or at parity with, comparable gas automobiles for many years. The deciding factors for specific vehicles vary, but drivers in the US are owning their cars for longer periods — they hit a record average of 12.5 years in 2023 — so that long-term fuel and maintenance savings advantage for EVs can tip the balance.
The November 2024 issue of the Alternative Power Report published by Power Systems Research includes articles on battery development and discussions on the declining costs of battery power for EVs. Reduced battery costs means reduced costs for EVs, too. An article discusses the outlook for clean energy in the U.S. now that Trump has regained the White House. PSR
Guy Youngs is Forecast and Technology Adoption Lead at Power Systems Research
There’s plenty of news on battery development of EVs in the October 2024 issue of the Alternative Power Report published by Power Systems Research. You can also read about VW’s plans to restructure its labor force, as well as several articles on hydrogen power. PSR
Guy Youngs is Forecast and Technology Adoption Lead at Power Systems Research
A European research consortium has produced a prototype solid-state battery using a new manufacturing process that reportedly achieves high energy densities and can be implemented on modern lithium-ion battery production lines.
The “SOLiDIFY” consortium, composed of 14 European research institutes and partners, developed a battery with a pouch cell with an energy density of 1,070 Wh/L, compared to 800 Wh/L in standard lithium-ion batteries
Geotab, an automotive telematics company, is using its in-depth access to EV data to track battery health. And its new study of 10,000 electric cars shows that their battery packs could outlast the vehicles themselves
With five years of data, the company recently released a new study that shows the average degradation per year is actually 1.8%. The company believes that it could translate to EV batteries lasting 20 years.
PSR Analysis: When EVs first appeared, there was a lot of talk about needing to replace the batteries after five years. That soon became 10, 15 and now 20 years, and so proving many ICE doubter wrong. Battery replacement need not be a concern when buying an EV. PSR
Guy Youngs is Forecast & Adoption Lead at Power Systems Research
China plans to introduce restrictions on antimony exports, a move that could lead to another flashpoint with the West over control of critical minerals. Antimony is used in lead-acid batteries, as well as in solar panels and flame retardant applications. The US Department of the Interior has designated it a critical mineral. It also is essential for armor-piercing ammunition, infrared sensors and precision optics.
Analysts estimate the market was already facing a 10,000-ton shortfall before China’s restrictions. The US is critically dependent on China for antimony. It consumed 22,000 tons of antimony products in 2023. Domestic production amounted to just 4,000 tons. This mostly came from antimonial lead recovered from used lead-acid batteries
PSR Analysis: There are a lot of minerals that are now being brought into sharp focus as the US looks at its critical minerals and finds that it is more reliant on other nations than previously thought. PSR
Guy Youngs is Forecast & Adoption Lead at Power Systems Research
A spinoff from CalTech called Sienza Energy has come up with a new silicon EV battery that does away with cobalt. The secret is a nanoscale structure that resembles a plastic badminton birdie but delivers the triple threat of cost, performance, and safety
Conventional lithium-ion batteries deploy millions of micron-sized particles in their electrodes. In contrast, the Sienza EV battery boots the scale into nano-territory with billions of structures, resulting in a surface area 100 times that of conventional batteries. In addition to more efficient heat dissipation, the expanded surface area is a key factor in the improved performance of the new batter
PSR Analysis: As a mineral, cobalt has some dark undertones with much concern being raised about the use of child labor in its mining, and since its cost is high, any move away from cobalt is appreciated. PSR
Guy Youngs is Forecast & Adoption Lead at Power Systems Research
