Why Solid-State Batteries Aren't Ready for Primetime: The Hype vs. Reality

Solid-state batteries are the latest dream ingredient for electric vehicles everywhere. Courtesy of constantly advancing material science and ever-increasing energy densities, solid-state batteries offer the promise of being lighter, faster charging, and longer range, while also being supposedly safer. They are the knight in shining armor that the EV world has been eagerly awaiting! But before you start prepping your victory dance for the death of the internal combustion engine, let's pump the brakes for a second.

Now, don't get me wrong, there has been significant progress on the solid-state front. Researchers have been busy tackling many major hurdles that have plagued this technology for years. As a result, they've made some serious strides in overcoming degradation and lithium plating, a nasty little problem where lithium builds up in unwanted areas, reducing battery life and potentially causing safety hazards, which in some cases can lead to explosive batteries.

Here are the key reasons Solid State Batteries are not ready to power your next EV:

• The Hype: Solid-state batteries promise longer range, faster charging, lighter cars, and a safer EV experience. Sounds amazing, right?
• The Reality Check: Labs are making progress, but turning lab breakthroughs into mass-produced realities is a whole different ballgame.
• Manufacturing Woes: Think precision watchmaking, but on a gigantic scale. Solid-state batteries need flawless layers, and that's hard to produce in the millions.
• The Price is NOT Right: We have no idea if solid-state batteries will ever compete with lithium-ion on cost, especially with those complex manufacturing needs.
• Green Dreams or Ethical Nightmares? Lithium-ion mining already has a bad rap. Will solid-state need a whole new supply chain with its own set of environmental and human rights risks?

One team out of the States has cooked up a design that retains 80% capacity after a whopping 6,000 charging cycles. That's enough to make any Tesla fanboy weep with joy. They've also cracked the code on a lithium metal anode, which boasts ten times the capacity of the usual graphite kind. Plus, it avoids the whole pesky dendrite formation issue – those spikey bits of lithium that can cause short circuits. On another promising front, scientists have developed a protective layer for the anode that ensures lithium deposition happens uniformly, preventing depletion and extending that all-important battery life. It's like putting a magic bulletproof vest on your battery – sounds pretty nifty, right?

Yet, despite these breakthroughs, the road to solid-state nirvana is paved with more potholes than a budget motorway. The biggest hurdle? Scaling this whole thing up for mass production. Right now, these are lab-made miracles, far removed from the brutal realities of a giga-factory production line.

Imagine trying to mass-produce something as finicky as a hand-crafted Swiss mechanical watch – that's the challenge we're facing. Solid-state batteries require delicate manufacturing processes, like building wafer-thin, flawless layers of solid electrolyte. Any imperfections can mean a battery kaput before it even leaves the factory floor. The current situation doesn't support the level of activity needed to meet the demands of millions of electric vehicles.

And then there's the cost. While everyone's raving about the magic of solid-state, there's a deafening silence on the price tag. The reality is, that we simply don't know yet if these batteries can compete with lithium-ion on a cost basis, especially when you factor in the complex manufacturing involved. Remember, lithium-ion already has an established, optimized supply chain – solid-state is starting from scratch. That translates to potentially huge costs for car manufacturers, costs that might be passed right down to you, the eager EV adopter.

Let's not forget the ethical considerations either. The lithium-ion battery industry has already been under fire for its reliance on mining practices that raise serious environmental and human rights concerns. Solid-state batteries, while not necessarily requiring lithium, might introduce a whole new set of resource-intensive materials. Before we get too excited, we need to make sure this "green" technology doesn't come with hidden prices and nasty surprises.

So, the truth is, that solid-state batteries are a long way off from being a viable, mainstream solution. The science is definitely on the right track, but the engineering and the economics are still major works in progress. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for a future powered by solid-state batteries, but let's focus on solving the problems we have now with lithium-ion, and stop pretending that solid-state is a magic bullet right around the corner.

I even asked Torque News editor Armen Hareyan about his opinion don't he future of solid-state batteries. He simply suggested to read his latest article discussing CATL's chief's discussion of the 3 problems with solid-state batteries who said commercialization of these batteries is years away. "The good news is that while hurdles remain in the development of solid-state batteries, SAIC IM Auto is making a bold move. Several days ago SAIC IM Auto announced that its upcoming Zhiji L6 electric car will be equipped with the industry's first ultra-fast charging solid-state battery. We will have to see how they approach to the commercialization of the soli-state batteries in the Zhiji L6," Hareyan said.

The reality is, we need a multi-pronged approach to battery technology, not just one shiny new hope on the horizon. So, keep your eye on solid-state, but for now, let's focus on making the best of the battery tech we already have.

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Bhavik Sreenath is an automotive expert, writer, and founder of Motolog Studio. With a Master's in Automotive Journalism and experience in publications like Bodyshop Magazine, he delivers compelling stories about the cars we love. From designing magazine layouts to reporting on eco-conscious practices, he brings a multifaceted perspective to automotive writing. His experience in Automotive Journalism makes him a vocal voice for car enthusiasts and industry insiders. Follow Bhavik on X, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook, to stay in touch and up-to-date with the latest EV and battery development news.