Could a new lithium-ion battery make electric cars more sustainable?

MIT researchers have now designed a battery material that could offer a more sustainable way to power electric cars. The new lithium-ion battery includes a cathode based on organic materials, instead of cobalt or nickel (another metal often used in lithium-ion batteries).

Could MIT battery material be a sustainable way to power electric cars?

Lamborghini has licensed the patent on the technology. Dincă’s lab plans to continue developing alternative battery materials and is exploring possible replacement of lithium with sodium or magnesium, which are cheaper and more abundant than lithium. An MIT battery material could offer a more sustainable way to power electric cars.

Could rock silicate replace lithium in electric car batteries?

Researcher at DTU have patented a new superionic material based on potassium silicate - a mineral that can be extracted from ordinary rocks. DTU researcher Mohamad Khoshkalam has invented a new material based on rock silicates for a solid-state electrolyte that has the potential to replace lithium in future electric car batteries.

Why do we need a new generation of lithium-free batteries?

As more and more people switch to electric cars, we need to develop a new generation of lithium-free batteries, which are at least as efficient, but more eco-friendly and cheaper to produce. This requires new materials for the battery’s main components; anode, cathode, and electrolyte, as well as developing new battery designs.

Is lithium ion a good battery for a car?

However, the lithium-ion battery, the most widely used electric car battery today, has its limitations— in terms of capacity, safety and also availability. Because lithium is an expensive, environmentally harmful material and the scarcity of the relatively rare metal can hinder the green transition of car transport.

What materials are needed for light-duty EV batteries?

We assess the global material demand for light-duty EV batteries for Li, Ni, and Co, as well as for manganese (Mn), aluminum (Al), copper (Cu), graphite, and silicon (Si) (for model details, see Supplementary Fig. 1).