August 2021
Solid-state batteries have been touted as having higher energy density, shorter charging times and costing less than traditional lithium-ion batteries. Are they the answer to mass market adoption of electric vehicles?
Solid-state batteries are safer, cheaper and can be used for longer without a decline in performance, requiring fewer raw materials.  Countries are looking to accelerate EV uptake to help meet the goals of the Paris Agreement. The transportation sector accounts for 24% of all greenhouse gas emissions, with road transport accounting for three-quarters of that pollution, according to the IEA. Additional climate urgency has come from the UN's latest IPCC report, which said that limiting global warming to close to 1.5C or even 2C above pre-industrial levels “will be beyond reach” by 2040 without immediate, rapid and large-scale reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. The next-generation power source, named for the solid electrolytes that replace the flammable liquid solution in current li-ion batteries, can store energy far more densely—meaning they can travel longer distances between charges. The electrolytes also double as the battery’s separator, the barrier between cathode and anode, reducing the fire risk and making them safer. They can be used for longer without a decline in performance, requiring fewer raw materials.