QuantumScape Announces Breakthrough in Solid-State Battery Technology
=====================================================================
QuantumScape, a company backed by Volkswagen, recently announced a significant advancement in the production of solid-state batteries, which are poised to transform the electric vehicle (EV) industry. The company plans to begin selling these batteries to manufacturers, including Volkswagen, as early as next year.
Solid-state battery technology is often regarded as a potential game-changer for EVs, generating considerable excitement among investors. Traditional EV batteries utilize liquid or gel electrolytes to facilitate the movement of ions between two electrodes. In contrast, solid-state batteries employ solid electrolytes, which drastically diminish the risk of combustion.
According to Sam Abuelsamid, vice president of market research at Telemetry, “The material that is used as that electrolyte contains oxygen, and it’s combustible.” He noted that even though EV fires are less frequent than those in gasoline-powered vehicles, they are more challenging to extinguish. The introduction of solid-state batteries could significantly mitigate this risk. Moreover, these batteries offer higher energy density, potentially doubling both capacity and range. “You can have double the capacity, double the range,” Abuelsamid explained.
Despite the promising advantages, the transition to solid-state batteries has been slow due to manufacturing challenges. Arumugam Manthiram, an engineering professor at UT Austin, highlighted that solid electrolytes are ceramic, which makes them brittle and inflexible. “They can crack,” he noted, indicating that producing large, thin, and uniform ceramic pieces on a large scale has proven difficult.
Nevertheless, QuantumScape asserts that it has enhanced its manufacturing process to create these ceramic components more effectively. The company is set to enter the market with its solid-state batteries next year, marking a significant step forward in battery technology for electric vehicles.
Original article by NenPower, If reposted, please credit the source: https://nenpower.com/blog/quantumscape-unveils-major-breakthrough-in-solid-state-battery-technology-for-electric-vehicles/
