Could Solid-State Batteries Improve EVs?

2023-06-18

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1
  • Toyota Motor Corporation of Japan is one of the world's largest carmakers.
  • 2
  • The company has faced criticism for being slow to develop electric vehicles (EVs).
  • 3
  • This week, Toyota announced that it had reached a "technological breakthrough" in the development of solid-state batteries.
  • 4
  • The company said it has overcome an issue with the durability of solid-state batteries.
  • 5
  • It said it is ready to move from research toward production.
  • 6
  • The carmaker told investors it expects to sell vehicles powered by solid-state batteries by 2027 or 2028.
  • 7
  • Solid-state batteries use thin layers of solid electrolytes that carry lithium ions between electrodes.
  • 8
  • The lithium-ion batteries currently used in EVs use liquid electrolytes.
  • 9
  • Solid-state batteries have been used in small electronic devices like pacemakers and smartwatches.
  • 10
  • But mass-market production of the batteries for EVs has developed more slowly.
  • 11
  • Solid-state batteries can hold more energy than liquid lithium-ion batteries.
  • 12
  • The gain could ease concerns about the limited distance an EV can travel.
  • 13
  • A Reuters study in March found that 35 percent of Americans wanted EVs that can travel more than 800 kilometers between charges.
  • 14
  • That is a distance few currently offer.
  • 15
  • Solid-state batteries also promise to reduce charging time.
  • 16
  • Toyota said it expects its solid-state battery would have a charging time of 10 minutes or less.
  • 17
  • There is also the issue of safety.
  • 18
  • The electrolyte in liquid lithium-ion batteries presents a risk of fire or chemical leaks.
  • 19
  • Several carmakers and technology companies have tested solid-state batteries for EVs.
  • 20
  • But they have been unable so far to produce them in large amounts.
  • 21
  • It is hard to design a solid electrolyte that is stable and still carries lithium ions between electrodes.
  • 22
  • Solid-state batteries do not last long and are much more costly to make than liquid lithium-ion batteries.
  • 23
  • Other major carmakers have also noted their efforts in producing solid-state batteries.
  • 24
  • Nissan Motor of Japan was the first automaker to launch a mass-market EV with its Leaf.
  • 25
  • It says it is developing solid-state batteries and is working toward mass production by 2028.
  • 26
  • Honda is also developing solid-state batteries.
  • 27
  • But the Japanese carmaker has not said when the batteries might be ready for production.
  • 28
  • QuantumScape is an American company backed by Bill Gates and Volkswagen of Germany.
  • 29
  • It has said it is working with six carmakers to develop the technology.
  • 30
  • Mercedes-Benz, Stellantis and TotalEnergies have an agreement to develop solid-state batteries with Taiwan-based battery maker ProLogium Technology.
  • 31
  • Ford, BMW and Hyundai Motor have invested in Solid Power, which is producing sample batteries.
  • 32
  • Hyundai has said it plans to mass-produce solid-state batteries by 2030.
  • 33
  • The EV market leader, Tesla, has not detailed solid-state battery development plans.
  • 34
  • The company said it has centered its efforts on the production of more powerful 4680 battery cells for its Cybertruck and other vehicles.
  • 35
  • I'm Ashley Thompson.
  • 1
  • Toyota Motor Corporation of Japan is one of the world's largest carmakers. The company has faced criticism for being slow to develop electric vehicles (EVs).
  • 2
  • This week, Toyota announced that it had reached a "technological breakthrough" in the development of solid-state batteries. The company said it has overcome an issue with the durability of solid-state batteries. It said it is ready to move from research toward production.
  • 3
  • The carmaker told investors it expects to sell vehicles powered by solid-state batteries by 2027 or 2028.
  • 4
  • Solid-state batteries
  • 5
  • Solid-state batteries use thin layers of solid electrolytes that carry lithium ions between electrodes. The lithium-ion batteries currently used in EVs use liquid electrolytes.
  • 6
  • Solid-state batteries have been used in small electronic devices like pacemakers and smartwatches. But mass-market production of the batteries for EVs has developed more slowly.
  • 7
  • Solid-state batteries can hold more energy than liquid lithium-ion batteries. The gain could ease concerns about the limited distance an EV can travel.
  • 8
  • A Reuters study in March found that 35 percent of Americans wanted EVs that can travel more than 800 kilometers between charges. That is a distance few currently offer.
  • 9
  • Solid-state batteries also promise to reduce charging time. Toyota said it expects its solid-state battery would have a charging time of 10 minutes or less.
  • 10
  • There is also the issue of safety. The electrolyte in liquid lithium-ion batteries presents a risk of fire or chemical leaks.
  • 11
  • Companies working on solid-state batteries
  • 12
  • Several carmakers and technology companies have tested solid-state batteries for EVs. But they have been unable so far to produce them in large amounts.
  • 13
  • It is hard to design a solid electrolyte that is stable and still carries lithium ions between electrodes. Solid-state batteries do not last long and are much more costly to make than liquid lithium-ion batteries.
  • 14
  • Other major carmakers have also noted their efforts in producing solid-state batteries.
  • 15
  • Nissan Motor of Japan was the first automaker to launch a mass-market EV with its Leaf. It says it is developing solid-state batteries and is working toward mass production by 2028.
  • 16
  • Honda is also developing solid-state batteries. But the Japanese carmaker has not said when the batteries might be ready for production.
  • 17
  • QuantumScape is an American company backed by Bill Gates and Volkswagen of Germany. It has said it is working with six carmakers to develop the technology.
  • 18
  • Mercedes-Benz, Stellantis and TotalEnergies have an agreement to develop solid-state batteries with Taiwan-based battery maker ProLogium Technology.
  • 19
  • Ford, BMW and Hyundai Motor have invested in Solid Power, which is producing sample batteries. Hyundai has said it plans to mass-produce solid-state batteries by 2030.
  • 20
  • The EV market leader, Tesla, has not detailed solid-state battery development plans. The company said it has centered its efforts on the production of more powerful 4680 battery cells for its Cybertruck and other vehicles.
  • 21
  • I'm Ashley Thompson.
  • 22
  • Hai Do adapted this story for Learning English based on reporting from Reuters.
  • 23
  • ____________________________________________________________________
  • 24
  • Words in This Story
  • 25
  • breakthrough - n. a sudden, important success
  • 26
  • battery - n. device placed inside a machine, such as watch and car, to supply electricity
  • 27
  • durability - n. state of strength and good condition over a long period of time
  • 28
  • electrolyte - n. a liquid (in a battery) through which electricity can pass
  • 29
  • electrode - n. one of the two points through which electricity flows into or out
  • 30
  • charge - n. an amount of electricity
  • 31
  • stable - adj. not easily changed or moved
  • 32
  • sample - n. a small amount that gives you information about something