Latest news with #LithiumIon
News.com.au
31-07-2025
- Automotive
- News.com.au
Everything you need to know about batteries and then some
Battery storage adoption growing in Australia as federal government rebates go live Lithium-ion batteries of different specific chemistries continue to dominate New technologies promising to increase energy capacity, power and safety Battery storage has been in the limelight with increasing frequency due in no small part to the Australian federal government's move to offer significant rebates for home storage systems from July 1, 2025. While the $2.3bn program to provide homeowners with a discount of about 30% on the upfront costs of installing small-scale batteries led to the various states adjusting their own programs – downwards for most part – it has led a big surge in interest. This interest has translated into real world numbers with solar and storage services provider SunWiz flagging that battery sales had surged past solar photovoltaic system sales for the first time ever in May 2025. Capacity of battery systems has also increased with the typical installed battery climbing from 10 kilowatt hours to 15kWh. With all that said and done, just what are batteries, what makes them tick and why are they important? An equally large driver – if not the greater at this point – is the increasing adoption of battery electric vehicles. Energy storage solution Typically, when one talks about battery storage, one is referring to rechargeable lithium-ion batteries much like those found in smartphones and other devices but scaled up to meet the needs of entire homes or even significant portions of an energy grid. Battery storage systems generally take excess energy produced by renewable energy sources such as home or grid-scale PV panels or wind turbines and store it away from use when it's dark or when the wind isn't blowing. They are widely considered to be indispensable towards achieving net zero emissions as they will backup renewable power, stabilise the grid and reduce (or remove) the reliance on fossil fuels during periods of peak demand. Altech Batteries chief financial officer Martin Stein agrees, telling Stockhead that while the world was ramping up renewable energy production, it is intermittent in nature as it is reliant on the sun shining or the wind blowing. 'However, power grids require 24-7 stability so the world needs batteries to store the excess energy so that it can return to the grid at night-time and when it is required,' he said. 'Energy arbitrage – essentially the purchasing of excess power when prices are low and then storing it for sale during peak usage periods – is also becoming as much as an investment proposition for battery storage as the grid stabilisation requirement.' Stein adds the Australian government's grants have placed batteries at the forefront of residential customers as a solution for their solar power requirements. It shouldn't come as a surprise then that the battery energy storage system market is growing at a 28% compound annual growth rate as it scales up to meet net zero targets. Battery components While other types of batteries might play more specialised roles in the future, like redox flow batteries for base load or longer duration energy, the most commonly used for now are still lithium-ion batteries. Lithium-ion batteries take their name from their use of lithium as a key ingredient. Other minerals – often referred to as critical minerals – are also found in batteries with notable examples such as nickel, cobalt, graphite, iron and phosphate. The exact mix depends on the specific battery chemistry – notable examples of which are NMC (nickel manganese cobalt), NCA (nickel cobalt aluminium) and LFP (lithium iron phosphate). Such batteries have been in use since the 1990s though they were only used for small devices then. Drilling down into the nuts and bolts, the active parts of batteries typically consist of a positive electrode, a negative electrode (the anode) and an electrolyte. The electrode is typically a metal oxide or phosphate while the anode is made from graphite. Lithium is found within the liquid electrolyte, which is typically a lithium salt in an organic solvent though research is underway to make affordable solid electrolytes that are expected to improve safety, energy density and charging speed. While there has been plenty of research since the 1990s to improve energy density, power and battery life (or charge cycles), the anode has reached the peak of what it can do using just graphite alone. Significant focus has also been placed on safety as attention on fires caused by lithium-ion batteries has led to growing demand for safer technologies. Developments This demand for safety is one of the reasons for the development of alternative technologies such as Altech Batteries' (ASX:ATC) CERENERGY solid state sodium batteries that use sodium chloride – common table salt – and nickel powder rather than critical minerals such as lithium, copper, cobalt, graphite and manganese. The combination of this chemistry and solid electrolytes makes them significantly safer as they don't experience thermal runaway, have a longer lifespan and an operating temperature range from -40 degrees Celsius to 60C. 'That's where Altech's battery technology becomes very beneficial. It's very safe, very robust technology,' Stein said. 'I think the world is also becoming aware of the risks of the raw material supply chain, especially with China dominating a lot of these raw materials like graphite. 'The world wants to secure its energy storage. It wants raw materials that are readily available and abundant like the very cheap and readily available sodium chloride that is found in Altech's products.' Altech itself is currently focused on securing the finance to construct its battery plant in Germany. 'We are looking to mandate a leading European bank to run the debt process for the financing and we're looking at equity partners that would like to take a 49% stake in the project,' Stein added. 'Between those two avenues of finance, we're looking to raise the money to construct the plant and start producing these batteries. ' Other battery types Li-S Energy's (ASX:LIS) lithium-sulphur batteries resurrect an old idea that was unable to be commercialised due to poor cycle life but use unique nanomaterials and a new nano-composite to address the old challenges. The new batteries promise higher energy density than lithium-ion batteries while being lighter and greener. This makes them ideally suited to applications such as powering drones. It recently produced lithium metal foils from its facility in Geelong, Victoria. Meanwhile, Novonix (ASX:NVX) recently received a patent for its low surface area silicon alloy materials for possible use as anode active materials in lithium-ion batteries. This describes the process to generate battery anode alloy powders of high silicon content, relatively low surface area and relatively large particle size, which are desirable for stable, energy dense anode electrodes with the possibility of improving battery lifetime without sacrificing performance. On the silicon front, AnteoTech (ASX:ADO) is also making waves with its Ultranode silicon dominant anodes that address the expansion issue that blocks the use of silicon. Its anodes recently reached a key technical milestone after being used for 890 cycles with 80% capacity retention with 1070 cycles at 70% capacity retention for a 70% silicon anode. The technology allows anodes to be configured t a range of silicon content levels to suit diverse battery applications across EVs, drones, power tools and other specialty batteries including wearables. These improvements led giant car maker Mercedes Benz, which ordered evaluation material in October 2024, to acknowledge that they see value in the company's technology and that it will continue to engage with ADO as they progress their battery technology strategy.
Forbes
24-07-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Innovation Without Trade-Offs—Solving For Cost, Performance, Impact
Vincent Ledoux-Pedailles, champions biographite—a disruptive tech catalysing a paradigm shift in battery supply chains. CCO of CarbonScape. There's a pervasive belief in technology and business: significant innovation demands trade-offs. Want better performance? Pay more. Want sustainability? Accept compromise. This zero-sum mindset has become so ingrained that we rarely question it. But what if the premise is fundamentally flawed? True innovation doesn't demand trade-offs—it eliminates them. The most transformative technologies of our time are proving that better, cheaper and cleaner aren't mutually exclusive goals. They're the natural outcome of genuine breakthrough thinking. The Outdated Dichotomy Of Progress For decades, industries have operated under the assumption that environmental responsibility and economic viability exist on opposite ends of a spectrum. This mindset has created artificial barriers to progress. Companies feel forced to choose between profitability and sustainability. This dichotomy is increasingly outdated. Nowhere is this more evident than in the EV revolution. The assumption that cleaner must mean costlier is being systematically dismantled. The battery industry, in particular, demonstrates how genuine innovation can deliver on multiple fronts without compromise. When Innovation Aligns Multiple Benefits Take the lithium-ion battery, essential for electric vehicles and renewable energy storage. Traditional graphite production—which represents up to 42% of a battery's volume—comes with significant environmental and geopolitical costs. Synthetic graphite is energy-intensive to produce, while natural graphite mining raises concerns about ecological degradation and supply chain dependencies. The economics are also challenging—traditional graphite production outside Asia can't compete with Chinese prices, resulting in a dangerous dependency, with over 95% of global processing concentrated in one country. Yet breakthroughs show we don't have to choose between performance, affordability and sustainability. Rather than relying on traditional supply chains, biographite flips the model—turning waste biomass into a high-performance battery material with a smaller carbon footprint. It delivers equivalent or superior battery performance as a drop-in replacement requiring no manufacturing changes. As an added benefit, it is a carbon-negative—capturing more carbon than it emits during production. Overall, biographite also improves supply chain resilience. A Broader Pattern Of Multi-Benefit Innovation This approach isn't exclusive to battery materials. Across the electrification ecosystem, similar breakthroughs are redefining what's possible. Battery costs are dropping fast. Industry analysts forecast battery pack prices will drop, nearing $100 per kilowatt-hour in 2025—a tipping point for electric vehicle affordability. EVs should then reach cost parity with gasoline cars between 2024 and 2025 for shorter-range models, and between 2026 and 2028 for longer-range EVs. But this shift isn't just about matching gasoline car prices—it's about delivering superior performance, lower operating costs and environmental benefits all at once. The critical minerals sector exemplifies this transformation. Innovations in extraction and processing are reducing water usage, cutting energy consumption and improving yields—all while lowering costs. Direct lithium extraction technologies, for example, can selectively remove lithium from brine without large evaporation ponds or excessive chemical use. Water usage also drops by 95% compared to traditional brine operations, while production accelerates from years to days. These aren't incremental improvements—they're fundamental reimaginings of how we source and process materials. The Compounding Effect What distinguishes genuine innovation is its ability to create cascading benefits. When technology solves multiple problems simultaneously, it accelerates adoption, drives down costs through scale and creates new possibilities. This isn't just theoretical—companies deploying these solutions are already seeing supply chain cost reductions and improved ESG scores. Consider how battery advancements aren't just making EVs affordable—they're enabling grid-scale storage, making renewable energy more viable and creating distributed power opportunities. Each breakthrough compounds the value of others. Improved battery chemistry reduces the need for certain critical minerals, easing supply constraints, reduceing costs, accelerating adoption and driving further innovation. Overcoming The Perception Barrier Despite clear advantages, ingrained skepticism remains. Historically, consumers, investors and leaders have accepted that sustainability involves compromise—especially regarding cost and functionality. This outdated belief hampers the adoption of beneficial innovations. Education is as crucial as technological advancement. When stakeholders see that sustainable battery materials can outperform traditional ones—offering better cycling stability, faster charging and longer life—while costing less and reducing supply chain risk, the choice becomes obvious. The Business Imperative For business leaders, recognizing this shift isn't just about environmental responsibility—it's about competitive advantage. Companies treating sustainability as a cost center rather than an innovation driver risk being left behind by competitors who understand that the best solutions solve multiple problems at once. The question isn't whether you can afford to innovate sustainably—it's whether you can afford not to. In the battery industry, technologies delivering the best performance, lowest costs and smallest environmental footprint are winning. This isn't a temporary trend driven by subsidies—it's the natural evolution of superior technology. Looking Forward—Innovation Without Sacrifice The notion that innovation inevitably comes with sacrifices is outdated. Companies that thrive will reject false choices between different types of value. They'll pursue solutions that improve performance while reducing costs, enhance user experience while minimizing environmental impact and create local jobs while serving global markets. Businesses must embrace a mindset where innovation inherently solves multiple interconnected problems. Those who do will drive technological progress while safeguarding competitive advantage. Real innovation creates value across multiple dimensions simultaneously. It's time we stopped accepting trade-offs as inevitable—and started demanding solutions that deliver on all fronts. Because when innovation is genuine, everybody wins. Forbes Technology Council is an invitation-only community for world-class CIOs, CTOs and technology executives. Do I qualify?
Indian Express
06-07-2025
- Indian Express
7 things to keep in mind while buying a power bank
A power bank is a critical accessory for those who are regularly away from home and need their devices, as it guarantees power on-the-go. However, there are some critical factors to keep in mind while buying a power bank for daily use, to ensure your devices' specifications are met. And, most importantly to ensure that it is a safe and reliable device. Most devices have a required voltage to charge at. For most recent smartphones, this stands at five volts. However, some phones need a higher voltage as well. However, all power banks are not compatible with the varying voltage. If the voltage provided by the power bank is lower, it will not charge the device. Hence, before buying a power bank, it is critical to check both your device charger's voltage and the power bank's voltage, to ensure compatibility and charging. A power bank should ideally be able to fully charge your smartphone from zero to 100 percent twice, if not thrice. To ensure this, you should check your phone's capacity either online, or from the phone's settings. This will likely be in milliamperes-hour (or mAh). Then, it is ideal to take a power bank with double, if not triple the capacity. For instance, for a phone with a 4,000 mAh, it is ideal to look out for a power bank with at least an 8,000 mAh capacity. Not all power banks are guaranteed to provide safe power to your devices. For instance, an unsafe power bank could lead to overcharging, and potentially even fry your device's batteries. Hence, before buying a power bank, it is crucial to check its features with respect to your needs as well. For instance, the power bank should be able to stop itself from over-charging, protect its integrated circuit, and most importantly, not have any risk of short circuiting. This can both cause harm to your device and physical harm to you. Another potential safety hazard can be the type of battery fitted in the power bank. Some lower-range power banks can contain low-quality battery cells, which have a higher chance of leakage, or even run a risk of explosion. To ensure optimal safety, look out for a power bank with either a Lithium Polymer or Lithium Ion cell, which is also Bureau of Indian Standards Act (BIS) certified. While power banks with these batteries can be slightly more expensive, the safety that they guarantee makes it worth it. This is a crucial factor for those who need to charge more than one device at a time. Some power banks only come with one charging port, meaning that only a singular device can be charged at once. Furthermore, the ports might also be compatible with a different charger type. To ensure the power bank fits your criteria, look at the product specifications, and ensure that the number and type of port fits your criteria. A power bank's build quality is crucial for both safety and longevity. A sturdy build with good-quality material can ensure security against wear-and-tear. With a power bank being an object made to be used on-the-move, a good build is necessary to have a long-lasting power bank. Ideally, the case should be a high-quality plastic, or a durable aluminium. This should keep out any dust or water from the internal components, making it much more secure and safe for use as well. Finally, a power indicator on the power bank is a helpful tool to gauge the amount of power it can provide before needing to be charged, to help account for usage. Even while charging, a power indicator can give you a gauge as to how much power the power bank has, and a rough estimate for how long it will take to charge fully. This can either be a small screen indicating its battery percentage, or a row of clear light dots. This is particularly useful to also prevent overuse of the power bank away from charge, and prevent overcharging the power bank while it is charging.
The Independent
22-05-2025
- The Independent
15 best hair clippers for a professional buzz cut at home
Whether you're maintaining your fade between barbershop visits or fully embracing the DIY haircut lifestyle, investing in the best hair clippers can make all the difference. With a growing number of men choosing to cut their own hair at home, the demand for high-quality, user-friendly clippers has never been higher. But with so many options on the market, it can be tough to know where to start. Mains-powered 'corded' clippers are a good choice if you're going to be doing a lot of cutting and are looking for longevity, while cordless ones are best if convenience and manoeuvrability are key – look for Lithium-Ion batteries, which tend to be longer-lasting. If achieving graduated fades is important, opt for clippers with taper levers or digital adjusters that allow you to change cutting lengths in minute increments. There are plenty of online tutorials to help hone your trimming skills but in terms of basics, celebrity hairdresser Luke Benson recommends cutting hair when it's dry, combing it through to eliminate tangles and starting on a longer length setting, working your way down, to reduce the risk of mistakes. Who knows, after giving a home cut a go, you may even decide to become a barber yourself. Keep reading for our pick of the best hair clippers around. How we tested When trimming our hair, we looked at how easy the clippers were to use, battery life, design, noise and vibration and, of course, its performance in achieving the desired results. All-round value for money and functionality was crucial too. We tested each hair clipper by trimming our own hair over the course of six months. Key factors we evaluated included cutting performance, battery life, ease of use, and overall durability. We also assessed each model for blade sharpness, motor power, noise level, ease of cleaning and build quality. Bonus points were given to those that included accessories. Why you can trust IndyBest reviews Lee Kynaston, also known as the @ grooming_guru, is an award-winning style and grooming journalist. He has been writing for IndyBest since 2021, with product reviews covering everything from skincare and haircare to men's fragrances. Lee casts a no-nonsense critical eye over the very best in men's grooming, gadgetry and fragrance, always in search of products that under-promise but over-deliver. The best hair clippers for 2025 are:
Business Upturn
29-04-2025
- Business
- Business Upturn
Endurance Technologies to establish Lithium Ion Battery Pack facility in Pune
By Aman Shukla Published on April 29, 2025, 16:49 IST Endurance Technologies is establishing a new manufacturing facility at Mindewadi, Taluka Maval, in the Pune district of Maharashtra, with a planned capital expenditure of approximately Rs. 473 million. This facility will focus on the production of Lithium Ion Battery Packs designed for mobility solutions and battery energy storage systems for a range of applications. The plant is expected to begin operations in phases starting from the fourth quarter of the financial year 2025–26, with a targeted production capacity of around 35,000 battery packs per month. The company is funding this investment entirely through internal accruals. The decision to enter the Lithium Ion Battery Pack segment marks a significant step in Endurance Technologies' strategy to broaden its product portfolio. Currently, the company's subsidiary, Maxwell Energy Systems Pvt. Ltd., is engaged in designing and supplying battery management systems. With the new facility, Endurance Technologies aims to meet the increasing demand in the mobility and energy storage sectors, aligning its operations with emerging market needs and the transition toward sustainable technologies. The battery packs will be primarily catered to the domestic market, with the product launch scheduled for January 2026. This move is part of the company's efforts to address growing market demands and support the development of cleaner energy solutions. Aman Shukla is a post-graduate in mass communication . A media enthusiast who has a strong hold on communication ,content writing and copy writing. Aman is currently working as journalist at
