Latest news with #SustainabilitybyNumbers
Yahoo
13-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists uncover unexpected use for EV battery parts in major tech breakthrough: 'This could open the door to a new class'
Rice University battery researchers are at it again when it comes to harvesting precious metals needed for lithium-ion cells. This time, they are repurposing a state-of-the-art pack component — the solid-state electrolyte — to extract lithium, according to a Rice news release. Success could alleviate reliance on foreign supply chains and invasive mining, helping lower costs for packs and the tech they power. When batteries operate, ions move between two electrodes through the electrolyte. Solid-state cells, which have a hard electrolyte instead of a liquid one, are potentially lighter, safer, and charge faster than the more common latter. But experts have struggled to develop an affordable manufacturing process for them, according to Top Speed. Companies, including Mercedes-Benz, are investing in recycling efforts to reclaim some of the parts inside as part of the solution. "The challenge is not just about increasing lithium production but about doing so in a way that is both sustainable and economically viable," corresponding study author Professor Menachem Elimelech said in the Rice report. His team is using the solid-state electrolyte as a membrane in aqueous lithium extraction with "near perfect" results. There are a variety of solid electrolytes from which to choose. Rice researchers are using a sodium super ionic conductor, or NASICON, according to Science Advances. The substance is designed to promote high ion conductivity. As an extractor, it tested well at separating lithium and water in "aqueous mixtures." Using an electric field to drive lithium ions across the solid electrolyte membrane effectively collected only the wanted particles. This, in part, is due to the electrolyte's tight crystalline lattice composition, which prevents water and other larger molecules from being collected. The selective feature is a huge win for the process. "The lattice acts as a molecular sieve," Elimelech said. There is going to be a growing need for lithium, according to Sustainability by Numbers. Analysts there estimated we will need tens of millions of tons to power the clean energy transition by 2040. But that's still far short of the 16.5 billion tons of fossil fuels mined annually. The good news is that battery prices are already expected to drop by next year, thanks to better tech, lower component prices, and increased recycling. Goldman Sachs predicted nearly half-price packs by 2026. If you were going to buy an EV, which of these factors would be most important to you? Good driving range Low sticker price High-tech features Cheap maintenance Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. That's important for continued EV adoption, a key part of globally reducing planet-warming tailpipe gases. Medical experts have linked the fumes to a wide range of health risks, including brain diseases. Each EV that replaces a fuel-burner prevents thousands of pounds of exhaust each year, per the U.S. Department of Energy. And it's still a good time to switch, due in large part to $7,500 in tax breaks that remain available for certain models. That's on top of the roughly $1,500 you can save annually in fuel/maintenance expenses. At Rice, the team thinks its electrolyte innovation can help backfill what it calls an expected lithium shortage as battery demand grows. Experts expect the technique to be applicable for harvesting other useful substances, as well. "This could significantly lower the environmental footprint of lithium production while making the process more efficient," Elimelech said. "This could open the door to a new class of membrane materials for resource recovery." Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Car manufacturers are making a huge move that could transform EV travel: 'They will make good on their goals'
An alliance of eight automakers has breathed new life into expanded nationwide electric vehicle charging opportunities. A news release from Ionna — founded by BMW, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, Stellantis, and Toyota — detailed plans to deploy 1,000 charging stalls by the end of the year. That would provide coast-to-coast travel with powerups along the way, per the statement. The larger goal is to open 30,000 of the American-made DC fast-charging bays during the next five years, according to Ionna and Car and Driver. It's an appealing prospect for EV owners who have been seeing mixed news lately about charging infrastructure investment. "They have steel and concrete in the ground with electrons flowing. I'd say they will make good on their goals," an Electrek reader, identified as Jim B., commented on a story about the project. In 2024, hundreds of millions of dollars was allocated by the U.S. government to build out and update the nation's charging system. But federal funding for the network has been paused by the Trump administration, according to NPR and a White House statement. Ionna announced its pilot phase included more than 4,400 charges of more than 80 vehicle models. Now, more than 100 sites are contracted around the country to deploy the tech in cities including Houston, Texas, and Abilene, Kansas. A reliable national charging system is important. Cox Automotive reported that new EV sales volume hit 102,243 in January. That's up nearly 30% from the previous year, and used EV sales rose 30.5% year-to-year too. The used market highlights growing battery reliability and longevity. What's more, Goldman Sachs reported the packs could see a 50% price drop by 2026. And while Sustainability by Numbers predicted that around 30 million tons of minerals will need to be mined each year to build all the batteries and other tech for our cleaner-energy transition, it still pales in comparison to the 16.5 billion tons of air-polluting fossil fuels hauled from underground annually. Also, once coal or gas is burnt for energy, the resource is gone, with heat-trapping air pollution left as a byproduct. Those fumes are linked by NASA to increased risks for severe weather, including damaging wildfires and coastal storms. Metals used in batteries, however, can be recycled. If you were going to purchase an EV, which of these factors would be most important to you? Cost Battery range Power and speed The way it looks Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. It's still a good time to switch to an EV, with tax breaks worth thousands of dollars for new and used rides available. That's in addition to $1,500 in gas/maintenance costs you can save annually. And more charging options are seemingly on the way. Tesla operates more than 60,000 Superchargers worldwide, 27,000 of them stateside. Most of the stalls are accessible to non-Teslas with an adapter. The growing network can provide up to 200 miles in about 15 minutes. Increasing the convenience, an Ionna site in Garner, North Carolina, is to have a food/refreshment service available 24/7 without lines, thanks to an automated process made possible by Amazon. It's part of an experience touted as being "AI-driven" and "innovation-rich," per the release. It is also a glimpse into the roadside rest stop future. "Ionna has refined its hardware, software, and customer experience to confidently step into a new phase of nationwide expansion," the developers wrote. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Researchers make surprising discovery after studying electric vehicles: 'More reliable'
A United Kingdom study that examined 300 million battery-powered and internal-combustion vehicles has highlighted how quickly electric tech is advancing. In fact, EVs are "more reliable" and can "match the lifespans" of gas-guzzlers, according to findings from the University of Birmingham. EVs "offer significant environmental benefits, especially as Europe switches to a more renewable energy mix," Birmingham economics professor Robert Elliott said in a news release. The study, published in the Nature Energy journal, included government vehicle records that charted the "health" of a variety of car types on U.K. roads between 2005 and '22. Longevity and powertrain durability for EVs, gas, and diesel vehicles were analyzed. The big takeaway: EV advancement has rapidly brought the modern conveyances to parity with fuel-powered vehicles, per the report. It was put together by an international, multi-institutional team. It found that EVs are more reliable — 12% less likely to fail "for each successive year of production, compared to 6.7% for petrol and 1.9% for diesel vehicles," according to the release. EV lifespan is now at 18.4 years and 124,000 miles, on average. The mileage mark is greater than gas vehicles, at 116,000. Other reports are also touting EV benefits. U.S. Department of Energy data showed that EVs prevent thousands of pounds of harmful, heat-trapping air pollution each year compared to fossil-burning rides, even in states where nonrenewables provide most of the energy to charge them. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology reported that limiting our planet's warming is crucial to avoiding worst-case severe weather and human health risks that are made worse by Earth's overheating. What's more, EV fire risk is in fact lower than that of gas cars, a common misconception set straight by Motor Trend and other publications. If you were going to purchase an EV, which of these factors would be most important to you? Cost Battery range Power and speed The way it looks Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Battery ranges are increasing to hundreds of miles while charge times are dropping to only minutes. And battery costs are expected to soon plunge 50%. In fact, Recurrent reported that a pack replacement is estimated to cost less than $5,000 by 2030, on par or less than a gas engine rebuild. While experts estimate that we will need to harvest around 30 million tons of minerals each year to power the cleaner energy transition, the mining will still fall far short of the 16.5 billion tons of fossil fuels annually hauled out of the ground, according to Sustainability by Numbers. And MIT experts confirmed that EVs are better for the planet during their lifetimes than gas cars, despite a manufacturing process that generates more pollution. Better yet, it's a great time to make the switch. You can save up to $1,500 per year in gas/maintenance costs. In the U.S., tax breaks of up to $7,500 are still available for certain models, pending possible policy changes under President Donald Trump. The evidence is substantial, indicating that the University of Birmingham's report is more confirmation than revelation about how fast EV tech is advancing. "Despite higher initial emissions from production, a long-lasting electric vehicle can quickly offset its carbon footprint … making [it] a more sustainable long-term option," Elliott said in the release. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
World's largest scooter maker turns heads with next-gen update on new model: 'Could help lead the entire industry toward this'
Global scooter giant Yadea's latest electric two-wheeler looks like a vintage cruiser that you could have seen navigating a busy Italian street decades ago. But this one is clearly built for the 2020s and beyond, as it's powered by emerging sodium-ion battery tech, according to a news release. "Yadea's status as a major electric motorbike maker also means that its adoption of sodium-ion battery technology could help lead the entire industry toward this battery chemistry, bringing safety and performance benefits along with it," Electrek's Micah Toll wrote. The publication said that Yadea has been the world's largest electric vehicle maker, of the two- and three-wheel variety, for seven years. For reference, the e-scooter market was worth $37 billion in 2023 with growth potential, according to estimates from California-based Grand View Research. Sodium-ion batteries are being developed by experts around the world as an alternative to lithium-ion packs for a variety of uses. A large version made in China is storing enough electricity to power 12,000 homes, for example. The chemistry has a similar structure as lithium, only there are sodium ions moving between the electrodes during operation instead of lithium ones, as described by ScienceDirect. Yadea's team sees the same advantages as others pursuing the salt-based power packs: "enhanced safety, environmental friendliness, and longer lifespan," per the release. For their part, lithium packs include expensive, hard-to-gather materials. What's more, some of the components are flammable. While catastrophic, failures and related fires are less common than gas-powered vehicle blazes, per multiple reports. It's also important to note that lithium packs remain reliable power sources for most EVs and other tech, despite invasive parts mining and processing. While 7.7 million tons of minerals are mined for "low-carbon" tech each year, about 16.5 billion tons of common fossil fuels are hauled from the earth annually, all per Sustainability by Numbers. Should the U.S. invest more in battery innovations? Absolutely Depends on the project We're investing enough We should invest less Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Better battery chemistries that leverage more sustainable materials can ease remaining concerns and help the shift from dependence on foreign supply chains and nonrenewable fuels. On the road, scooter enthusiasts will be excited about the ride's performance, too. That's because the Yadea-dubbed HuaYu Sodium Superfast Charging Ecosystem charges to 80% in 15 minutes. The pack withstood 20 safety tests, with fire resilience under extreme conditions among them. The battery has a three-year warranty, but it should be good for up to five years. That's based on an expected 1,500-cycle life at room temperature. It also has a discharge retention rate of more than 92% at minus-4 degrees Fahrenheit — good for anyone who enjoys brisk rides, all per Yadea. Sodium packs aren't yet at parity with lithium when it comes to energy density — the amount of electricity that can be stored per pound. This results in less range, by comparison, Electrek reported. But Yadea and others seem to be closing the gap. That's important as we transition to a cleaner, battery-powered transportation system. EVs, for example, prevent thousands of pounds of heat-trapping air pollution compared to gas cars, according to U.S. government data. The fumes are linked by medical experts to lung, heart, and other health risks. Switching to an EV, e-scooter, or e-bike can save you loads of cash by eliminating gas and maintenance costs, as well. And tax breaks of up to $7,500 remain available for qualified EVs. As for Yadea, company experts indicated that we should expect more innovations. "Yadea remains committed to driving innovation in technology, delivering more efficient, safer, and environmentally friendly mobility solutions to consumers worldwide," per the statement. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
