Electric vehicles, or EVs, are an important development. They are one of the few very visible attempts to create a working solution to combat fossil fuel dependence. However, they still seem to be struggling to gain mainstream acceptance. One of the biggest barriers is something called “range anxiety”. However, a new generation of batteries may finally break through this barrier.
Electric vehicles have negligible road emissions. But if you run out of charge while traveling, you’ll probably need a tow. Several companies are making and running EV charging stations for EV drivers. But you cannot realistically expect them to be as widespread as other consumer services like Charter Spectrum cable. And if you do run out of juice, you can’t exactly walk to a power station to get some in a jerrican. Read on to find out how a new breed of batteries is tackling this problem.
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The Problem with Li-Ion Batteries in Use Today
Lithium-ion or Li-ion batteries are the most common power source in electric vehicles today. They have helped companies demonstrate electric charge as a cleaner alternative to conventional fossil fuels. However, they have several inherent drawbacks. For example, a Li-ion battery carries the risk of overheating and damaging the EVs sophisticated circuitry. But by far, the biggest problem is that Li-ion batteries come with a very short life. This contributes to the “range anxiety” effect and discourages consumers from investing in an EV.
Of course, as time goes on, Li-ion batteries and energy tech will only continue to improve. So, Li-on batteries still have a place in the future of the energy industry. But many believe other parallel technology may offer better potential in terms of EV batteries.
Why Battery Life Remains a Concern
For any piece of tech that relies on a battery, the life of the battery will always be a concern. The problem becomes more complex when the tech is meant to replace something as significant as conventional automobiles. People are conventionally hesitant to try out new things. And while EVs offer a lot of value in terms of lesser carbon emissions and more savings, there are still concerns. Mainly about whether batteries are as reliable as manufacturers claim. And what to do if they run out of charge in the middle of nowhere.
For car owners, both are nightmare situations. A vehicle that can be stranded unless you find a charging station, or one that could be damaged by a faulty battery, is not an appealing prospect to any buyer. However, EV manufacturers have already improved significantly on these problems since the early versions of electric vehicle batteries. But they will still need to work more on delivering solutions that can help them break into mainstream car cultures.
Why EV Manufacturers Need a Better Solution
There are several compelling reasons for EV companies to research and develop better battery technology. The EV market is one of the fastest-growing in the world. It has the potential to significantly cut down on global road carbon emissions. And it could potentially open the doorway into a new automotive era, making conventional internal combustion engines obsolete. EVs are also far more cost-efficient to run and maintain.
However, one of the largest problems EV manufacturers still face is global acceptance. Despite several great EV models available today while you read this blog, you still see very few of them on the roads. Range anxiety remains a significant hurdle in getting the public to accept EVs as a viable and workable alternative to conventional vehicles. And the only way to counter range anxiety is to research and develop EV batteries that hold a bigger charge, are more efficient, and remain reliable.
How Solid-State and Lithium-Silicon Are Promising
Solid-state and lithium-silicon batteries may be the beginning of a new chapter in EV history. Of course, the technology to utilize them as EVBs still under development. But big OEM names like Daimler, BMW, and even automotive juggernaut Volkswagen have shown interest in the promising new tech. EV manufacturers want to reach about a 100 million base in EV customers by 2028. And with better and more reliable battery lives, they should have far less trouble convincing people how good EVs are.