Latest news with #SolidPower
Miami Herald
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
How U.S. Battery Innovations Could Transform EVs, Homes and the Power Grid
Your smartphone, electric car and home solar array all share a hidden truth: the humble lithium‑ion battery powering them was first commercialized in 1991. Today, three decades later, the U.S. still relies heavily on this vintage chemistry. But a quiet energy revolution is underway that will drive longer EV road trips from Los Angeles to San Francisco, slash home storage costs, and cut reliance on contentious cobalt and nickel supply chains. Nearly every device you own, from your iPhone in Manhattan to your Tesla parked in Palo Alto, uses lithium‑ion cells. This workhorse chemistry delivers high energy density in a compact package, but its road map has begun to bump against real‑world limits: Range ceilings: Most American EVs top out around 300–350 miles per charge, still shy of that California coast‑to‑coast dream. Safety headaches: Flammable liquid electrolytes have prompted high‑profile recalls by major automakers after thermal‑runaway concerns: Over 60% of the world's cobalt and 70% of nickel come from geopolitically sensitive regions that can involve labor and environmental issues. Think of first‑generation lithium‑ion like the Ford Model T: revolutionary in its day, but ready for a homegrown reinvention. Under the bipartisan Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), the Department of Energy aims to drive battery pack costs below $80 per kWh by 2025. Meanwhile, the DOE's Battery500 Consortium brings together Argonne National Lab, Ford, GM and Solid Power to push solid‑state energy density past 500 Wh/kg. States like California (with its Self‑Generation Incentive Program) and New York (via NY Green Bank) are offering rebates on stationary storage, while utilities such as PG&E and NextEra Energy are piloting grid‑scale sodium‑ion and flow batteries. These incentives, paired with swelling U.S. venture investment-over $5 billion in 2023 for battery startups-are rewiring America's cleantech landscape. Below are the five battery families poised to reshape U.S. energy, from EV showrooms in Detroit to solar farms in Texas. 1. Solid‑State Batteries: The 500-Mile EV Game Changer How they work: Replace liquid electrolytes with a solid ceramic or polymer-think of it as an unbreakable ionic highway. Why it matters for Americans: 500‑mile EV range: Ford and BMW collaborations with Solid Power aim to hit this milestone by 2027, letting a single charge carry you from Denver to No more Tesla battery‑fire headlines-solid electrolytes don't fuel thermal DOE tests show over 1,200 full cycles with minimal capacity loss-translating to 10+ years in daily service. Challenges: Scaling to gigafactory volumes remains a multibillion‑dollar hurdle. Expect U.S. pilot production lines by 2025 and limited consumer SUVs by 2030. 2. Lithium‑Sulfur: Lightweight, Low-Cost, and Made in America How they work: Swap pricey metal oxide cathodes for abundant sulfur, slashing pack weight and cost. American edge: Sulfur is a byproduct of U.S. oil refining, costing under $0.05 per kg. Key perks: Up to 500 Wh/kg theoretical energy density-fueling lighter drones for NOAA weather projects and next‑gen eVTOL cost: Potential factory costs as low as $60/kWh. Hurdle: Polysulfide shuttling degrades cycle life-startups like Lyten (HQ: Menlo Park) and Sion Power (Chandler, AZ) are deploying graphene coatings to stabilize cathodes, targeting pilot production by 2027. 3. Sodium‑Ion Batteries: Cheap, Abundant, and Perfect for Home Storage How they work: Replace lithium with sodium in the same "rocking‑chair" format-no exotic supply chains required. U.S. relevance: Sodium is over 10,000 times more abundant than lithium, with vast deposits in Gulf Coast salt flats and across the western U.S. Pros: Cost: Sodium-ion packs could drop below $70/kWh by 2026, undercutting even lithium-ion on reliability: Performs well down to –4 °F, making it a strong candidate for northern grid storage and winter life: Lab data and projections suggest 3,000–5,000 cycles, rivalling or exceeding lithium-ion durability. Use cases: Ideal for stationary home and community storage, as well as micro-mobility like e‑bikes and scooters. Catching up fast: While current sodium-ion energy density remains lower (110–140 Wh/kg), CATL projects next-gen cells reaching 200 Wh/kg by 2027, putting them on par with lithium-ion. Lab results also suggest cycle life of 3,000–5,000 cycles, making sodium-ion viable not just for home storage and scooters, but potentially for urban EVs and commercial fleets. 4. Aluminum‑Ion: Ultra-Fast Charging for Phones and Tools How they work: Anodic aluminum sheets cycle ions through novel cathode structures and ionic liquids. American R&D: Oak Ridge National Lab and Argonne prototypes show full charges in under 10 minutes. Benefits: Fast charging: Down from hours to minutes for smartphones and power Aluminum is the most recycled metal in the U.S.-no toxic extraction. Roadblocks: Lab cells still struggle to maintain 500+ cycles. Commercial rollout likely 2030+, pending DOE's SCALE‑UP funding rounds. 5. Zinc‑Air: Reliable Backup Power for Hurricanes and Grid Outages How they work: Zinc oxidizes at the anode while ambient oxygen reacts at the cathode-like a fuel cell that never runs out of air. Why Texas and Florida care: $50/kWh system costs are within reach for community backup during hurricane-driven blackouts.10‑day storage capability keeps critical services online when solar or wind dips. Limitation: Slow recharge time-best suited for primary backup or flow‑style refueling at centralized hubs. Powerwall vs. sodium‑ion: A Tesla Powerwall 2 lists around $11,500 ($430/kWh installed) today. Early sodium‑ion systems from GridScale Energy (Austin) are targeting $300/kWh installed by 2026-over 30% costs: The average price of a new EV in the U.S. hovers around $55,000. If solid‑state reduces battery pack costs by 15%, automakers could drop sticker prices by $8,000 or boost range by 100 miles without raising pilot: Florida Power & Light's zinc‑air trial aims for 1 MW, 10 MWh systems to handle hurricane season peak loads, at an estimated $200/kWh installed-half the cost of lithium‑ion backups. Why Battery Tech Is Key to America's Energy Security and Affordability Your wallet: U.S. DOE targets and IRA credits could cut your home battery costs in half by 2030. One of the leading reasons for NOT buying an EV in the US is concern over car price which is largely determined by battery security: Fewer imports of cobalt and nickel mean stronger supply chains and less price commute: Imagine your EV reliably hitting 600 miles on a charge-no more range anxiety on I‑95 or Route 66. No single battery chemistry will rule. Instead, expect a U.S. portfolio approach: Luxury EVs: Solid‑state batteries for flagship models from Tesla, Ford and mobility: Sodium‑ion for entry‑level EVs, e‑bikes and scooters in urban cores like New York or Los electronics: Aluminum‑ion and improved lithium‑ion for phones, laptops and power tools that recharge in resilience: Zinc‑air and next‑gen flow batteries giving states their own backup independence. American automakers, utilities and labs are investing tens of billion annually to lead this charge. The real competition isn't just technical-it's about reshoring manufacturing, training a new workforce, and securing U.S. leadership in the energy transition. Q: When can I buy these locally? Sodium‑ion home/storage: Available via regional installers by 2025– EVs: Limited pilot fleets from 2027–2030; mass‑market rollout by packs: Aerospace and specialty drone use in early 2030s. Q: Will lithium‑ion stick around? Absolutely. Existing plants in Nevada and Ohio will keep cranking out improved lithium‑ion for phones, laptops and lower‑range EVs through the 2030s, with incremental gains in lifetime and safety. Q: How about recycling? U.S. firms like Li‑Cycle (Toronto HQ, U.S. plants in Rochester and Gilbert) and Redwood Materials (Nevada) are scaling up facilities to recover over 95% of metals from spent cells, while new chemistries with fewer toxic metals streamline processing. Better batteries are not science fiction; they're being engineered today in American labs, factories and testbeds. Over the next decade, advances in solid‑state, sodium‑ion, lithium‑sulfur, aluminum‑ion and zinc‑air will reshape how we power cars, phones and the grid. The question for U.S. consumers isn't if these breakthroughs will arrive, but which one will change your life. And it might just be Made in America. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
BMW Begins Solid-State Battery EV Testing
Solid-state batteries are considered the inevitable future of EVs, but bringing them to market is slow work. One of Germany's most popular automakers is no stranger to putting in the legwork, as the i7 M70 you see before you is sporting batteries that have been in development since at least 2016. The automaker plans to road test the vehicle extensively on the streets of Munich. View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article Let's start with the how. Back in 2016, BMW began cooperating with battery manufacturing company Solid Power. In mid-2021, that commitment escalated, with the Bavarians (along with Ford) formally investing in Solid Power's Series B funding. At the end of 2022, the two grew even closer, as BMW kicked off a cell prototype production line with Solid Power's insight. Today, we feast our eyes on the result: a BMW i7 M70 fitted with solid-state batteries that were reportedly developed via the partnership. Interestingly, the solid-state batteries here have more in common with the EVs BMW currently sells, rather than the upcoming Neue Klasse (NK) models. NK vehicles rely on cylindrical cells that are more tightly packed with no modules, whereas current BMW EVs use a prismatic design with modules. BMW calls this fifth-generation technology 'proven,' which is likely the reason it opted to use it over the much newer sixth-generation batteries. BMW says the i7 tester will hopefully give insight into two main areas: how to manage cell expansion as well as temperature and pressure conditioning. The advantages of solid-state batteries are significant. They offer higher energy density and lower overall weight than the batteries in use today. That translates to better range and performance. Solid-state batteries are also more resistant to extreme temperatures, making them less of a fire risk and, at an even more basic level, improving perceived resiliency on the customer side. The biggest current downside is cost. The automaker quipped back in February that solid-state tech is simply too expensive to roll out, claiming customers wouldn't be willing to shell out the extra coin needed to make solid-state batteries a reality. At least, not for now. Around the same time, rival Mercedes-Benz said it was 'close' to putting solid-state batteries into production. Similarly, the Affalterbach-based automaker is testing an EQS fitted with 'semi-solid-state batteries.' Solid-state batteries may be the future, but there's still a lot of room for improvement when it comes to traditional lithium-ion tech. Look no further than BMW's own Neue Klasse cars, which are projected to offer as much as 500 miles of range or more on a full charge. Ultimately, it's unlikely we'll see a production-ready car powered by a solid-state battery this decade. After all, those product roadmaps have largely already been written. But with some manufacturers clearly looking to the future, it's reasonable to expect this niche to naturally evolve in the next ten years. Expect a low-batch or super-lux vehicle to pilot the tech at a high price, followed by a slow trickle down. Whether or not Mercedes will beat BMW to the punch is anyone's guess. BMW Begins Solid-State Battery EV Testing first appeared on Autoblog on May 21, 2025
Auto Blog
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Blog
BMW Begins Solid-State Battery EV Testing
The sheet metal doesn't give much away, but this i7 M70 test mule is the Bavarian company's first roadworthy foray into the world of solid-state batteries Bavaria brings better battery technology another step towards reality Solid-state batteries are considered the inevitable future of EVs, but bringing them to market is slow work. One of Germany's most popular automakers is no stranger to putting in the legwork, as the i7 M70 you see before you is sporting batteries that have been in development since at least 2016. The automaker plans to road test the vehicle extensively on the streets of Munich. Solid-state batteries under the sheet metal of the tester BMW i7 Engineers working on the solid-state battery i7 Front half of the i7 M70 with solid-state batteries BMW leverages an investment and applies lessons learned in its first solid-state battery vehicle Let's start with the how. Back in 2016, BMW began cooperating with battery manufacturing company Solid Power. In mid-2021, that commitment escalated, with the Bavarians (along with Ford) formally investing in Solid Power's Series B funding. At the end of 2022, the two grew even closer, as BMW kicked off a cell prototype production line with Solid Power's insight. Today, we feast our eyes on the result: a BMW i7 M70 fitted with solid-state batteries that were reportedly developed via the partnership. Interestingly, the solid-state batteries here have more in common with the EVs BMW currently sells, rather than the upcoming Neue Klasse (NK) models. NK vehicles rely on cylindrical cells that are more tightly packed with no modules, whereas current BMW EVs use a prismatic design with modules. BMW calls this fifth-generation technology 'proven,' which is likely the reason it opted to use it over the much newer sixth-generation batteries. BMW says the i7 tester will hopefully give insight into two main areas: how to manage cell expansion as well as temperature and pressure conditioning. Solid state batteries in BMW's battery facility. Solid-state batteries are the next step for EVs, but progress needs to be made The advantages of solid-state batteries are significant. They offer higher energy density and lower overall weight than the batteries in use today. That translates to better range and performance. Solid-state batteries are also more resistant to extreme temperatures, making them less of a fire risk and, at an even more basic level, improving perceived resiliency on the customer side. The biggest current downside is cost. The automaker quipped back in February that solid-state tech is simply too expensive to roll out, claiming customers wouldn't be willing to shell out the extra coin needed to make solid-state batteries a reality. At least, not for now. Around the same time, rival Mercedes-Benz said it was 'close' to putting solid-state batteries into production. Similarly, the Affalterbach-based automaker is testing an EQS fitted with 'semi-solid-state batteries.' Engineer making adjustments on a laptop, i7 in the background — Source: BMW Final thoughts Solid-state batteries may be the future, but there's still a lot of room for improvement when it comes to traditional lithium-ion tech. Look no further than BMW's own Neue Klasse cars, which are projected to offer as much as 500 miles of range or more on a full charge. Ultimately, it's unlikely we'll see a production-ready car powered by a solid-state battery this decade. After all, those product roadmaps have largely already been written. But with some manufacturers clearly looking to the future, it's reasonable to expect this niche to naturally evolve in the next ten years. Expect a low-batch or super-lux vehicle to pilot the tech at a high price, followed by a slow trickle down. Whether or not Mercedes will beat BMW to the punch is anyone's guess.
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
BMW Group tests all-solid-state battery technology in i7 vehicle
The BMW Group is advancing its exploration of all-solid-state battery (ASSB) technology by integrating large-format ASSB cells from Solid Power into its test vehicle, the BMW i7, currently operating in the Munich area. This initiative aims to leverage the potential benefits of ASSB technology, which offers higher energy density in a compact storage system compared to existing battery technologies. Since 2022, the BMW and Solid Power have intensified their collaboration under a technology transfer agreement to develop ASSB technology. The ASSB technology is expected to enable longer vehicle ranges without the added weight typically associated with current battery systems. The concept battery in the BMW i7 test vehicle combines Gen5 construction principles, featuring prismatic cells in modules, with innovative module concepts designed for integrating ASSB cells from Solid Power. This integration will allow for the investigation of critical factors such as cell expansion management, operating pressure control, and temperature condition adjustments. Solid Power president and CEO John Van Scoter said: 'Solid Power is extremely proud that our partnership with BMW has resulted in the first demonstration of truly all-solid-state battery cells in a vehicle. 'We believe in the promise of ASSB's and continue to drive innovation of our sulphide electrolyte in support of that future for EVs.' BMW believes that the use of Solid Power's cells, which utilise sulphide-based electrolytes, will provide valuable insights during the test programme over the coming months. BMW Battery Cell and Cell Module vice president Martin Schuster said: 'Our BMW i7 ASSB test vehicle on the road is a perfect example of the BMW Group's technology-open mindset. "We are continuously advancing the development of new battery cell technologies and are constantly expanding our know-how with valuable partners such as Solid Power.' These cells have been developed and manufactured by Solid Power in collaboration with experts from the BMW. The partnership between the companies dates back to 2016, supported by an extended joint development agreement. At the end of 2022, both companies agreed to deepen their partnership, with BMW operating a solid cell prototype line at the Cell Manufacturing Competence Centre (CMCC) in Parsdorf. Since 2008, BMW has been enhancing its expertise in battery cell technology, consolidating this knowledge at the Battery Cell Competence Centre (BCCC) in Munich since 2019. "BMW Group tests all-solid-state battery technology in i7 vehicle" was originally created and published by Just Auto, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
BMW i7 gets efficiency-boosting solid-state battery in latest tests
BMW has started testing a cutting-edge solid-state battery in its electric i7. The all-solid-state battery – or ASSB – is designed to deliver longer ranges than a current electric vehicle but without the traditional weight penalty associated with a conventional lithium battery. In essence, a solid-state battery could unlock longer ranges from electric vehicles while making them lighter than current EVs. Martin Schuster, vice president battery cell and cell Module at the BMW Group, said: 'Our BMW i7 ASSB test vehicle on the road is a perfect example of the BMW Group's technology-open mindset. We are continuously advancing the development of new battery cell technologies and are constantly expanding our know-how with valuable partners such as Solid Power. ' BMW and specialists Solid Power have been working together since 2016 following a 'joint developmental agreement' and was supported by an investment by BMW Group in Solid Power in May 2021. While the German manufacturer hasn't stated what level of range the solid-state battery-equipped i7 is returning, a new series of tests will look to see how the technology copes with usual driving scenarios. John Van Scoter, president and chief executive officer of Solid Power, said: 'Solid Power is extremely proud that our partnership with BMW has resulted in the first demonstration of truly all-solid-state battery cells in a vehicle, 'We believe in the promise of ASSB's and continue to drive innovation of our sulfide electrolyte in support of that future for EV's.'
