Zoomi Life

Lithium pellets covered in lithium hydroxide

Research and development of better, more efficient, lighter, and stronger battery technologies has been taking off full steam lately.  Researchers at MIT are working to find a better solution of chemicals for lithium-ion batteries, for instance, while another lab at MIT is working on lithium replacements as there may be lithium shortages soon.

Right now, battery packs for the Chevy Volt cost around $600/kWh, but that will rapidly change as the car goes into production and the batteries increase in volume.  This could cut the price by as much as two thirds.

Other research is going into supercapacitors. Recent breakthroughs from EEStor could bring that to the fore and push battery technology to the back-burner.  Hydrogen researchers are progressing quickly and could also change how electrical storage is viewed.

Meanwhile, lithium shortages (mentioned above) are beginning to plague the battery industry as projected demands for lithium ore outstrip supply within the next ten years.  While lithium currently costs about a dollar a kilogram, that is expected to jump as demand increases.  The costs of lithium, however, will have a nice side-effect: recycling.

Overall, the batteries in today’s electrics will probably change radically over time.  Twenty years from now, we’ll probably consider lithium-ion or similar technologies to be barbaric and very outdated.

Sources: 1, 2