Could Chinese team’s new EV battery tech offer top-class performance at a fraction of the cost?

Performance of all-solid-state device developed by Chinese researchers akin to that of advanced varieties, findings published in Nature Communications say

It can also be produced for a lower price, holding out great promise for commercial applications, study says

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Solid-state batteries are a safer option but large-scale usage has been held back by high production costs. Photo: AFP

Published: 9:10pm, 11 Jul 2023

Chinese scientists say they have developed a new solid-state battery technology to match cutting-edge performance at just 4 per cent of the cost.

Most EV batteries are of the lithium-iron phosphate or ternary lithium variety, and each has its own merits in terms of cost stability and energy density. However, both contain liquid electrolytes.

Liquids have a lower energy storage density than solids. Despite advancements in liquid battery technology, their bulkiness, weight and potential fire risk prevent their usage in lightweight EVs.

But researchers at the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) in Anhui province have been able to develop all-solid-state batteries – using solid electrolytes for conduction – that also come at a fraction of the cost, holding out great promise for commercial applications of the technology.

Solid-state batteries have numerous advantages over the conventional kind, such as double the energy density, faster charging speeds, and unrestricted charging temperatures.

As they are non-flammable, non-corrosive and leakproof, these next-generation batteries also represent a much safer option for the electric vehicle and energy storage industries.

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