Brussels-based transport and environment organization Transport & Environment points out that solid-state batteries are expected to reduce the carbon footprint of EV power batteries by as much as 39% compared to lithium-ion batteries based on liquid electrolytes. In the study, commissioned by Minviro, it compared emerging solid-state battery technology with the chemistries of today’s common EV power batteries.
(From: Transport & Environment)
Minviro is a London-based company specializing in lifecycle analysis of raw materials. As one of the most promising chemical formulations of today, the NMC-811 solid-state battery has significant advantages.
Specifically, solid-state batteries use a solid ceramic material rather than a liquid electrolyte to host the cell, allowing manufacturers to introduce lighter weight, faster charging, and hopefully lower-cost batteries.
Solid-state batteries are expected to start gaining popularity in electric vehicles starting in 2025. Traditionally fueled car companies, such as Ford and BMW, are already planning to begin testing them by the end of 2022.
Cecilia Mattea, T&E’s clean vehicle officer, explained that electric vehicles have a more positive impact on the planet than fossil fuels, and the carbon footprint of batteries is decreasing every year.
On top of that, the progress of solid-state batteries is much brighter. Thanks to higher energy densities, they also require much less material to manufacture, which ultimately translates into a much lower carbon footprint.
“● Solid-state batteries can store more energy with less material and can reduce the carbon footprint of EV power cells, which has already been reduced, by an additional 24%.
● The carbon footprint of EV power cells can be further reduced by up to 39% when sustainably sourced technologies and materials are used.”
As for new mining methods, they include extracting lithium from geothermal wells. The climate impact is significantly lower than that of more common sources of raw materials, such as lithium extracted from hard rock mined in Australia and shipped to China for refining.
“●On the one hand, solid-state batteries use 35 percent more lithium than current lithium-ion batteries.
●On the other hand, they use much less graphite and cobalt — the latter of which is mined primarily in the Democratic Republic of Congo.”
Finally, the European Parliament and the EU government are negotiating the final text of the proposed battery regulation. This will require accountability for the source of lithium, while safeguarding human rights and the environment, and will be complemented by guidance on future battery recycling policies.
