What if electric car batteries could last even longer than the vehicles themselves? A recent study in Canada reveals a major breakthrough in battery technology, capable of transforming our approach to sustainable mobility.
Current lithium-ion batteries, although efficient, are gradually losing their ability to store energy. A news technologybased on monocrystalline electrodes, could be a game-changer. Tested for six years, this battery showed exceptional resistance, paving the way for more durable and economical electric vehicles.
Technology that defies time
Traditional batteries use electrodes made up of many small crystals, which are prone to microcracks during charge and discharge cycles. These cracks gradually reduce their capacity. On the other hand, monocrystalline electrodes, made up of a single solid crystal, are more resistant to mechanical stress.
This unique structure allowed the tested battery to retain 80% of its capacity after 20,000 cycles, the equivalent of 8 million kilometers traveled. A performance eight times higher than that of current batteries, which often lose 20 to 30% of their capacity in just a few years.
An innovative analysis method
To study this technology, researchers used high-energy X-rays, making it possible to observe the inside of the batteries without dismantling them. This non-invasive approach revealed an almost complete absence of cracks in the monocrystalline electrodes, unlike traditional batteries.
These observations confirm the superiority of monocrystalline electrodes in terms of durability. Researchers have also identified additives and surface coatings that can further slow degradation, thereby enhancing the longevity batteries.
Major implications for the industry
A battery capable of lasting 8 million miles could outlast all the other parts in a electric vehicle. This would significantly reduce maintenance costs and limit theenvironmental impact linked to production and recycling batteries.
In addition, these batteries could find a second life in large-scale energy storage, particularly for electricity networks powered by renewable energies. Their durability makes them ideal candidates for storingsolar energy or wind turbinethus contributing to the energy transition.
Marketing in sight
Although this technology is not yet used in electric vehicles, it is already in commercial production and its adoption is expected to accelerate in the coming years. Tesla in particular is closely interested in this, and has also partly financed this research.
This advance marks a turning point in battery technology, promising more sustainable electric vehicles and more efficient management of renewable energy. With batteries capable of lasting decades, electric mobility could experience significant development.
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