Electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming more popular around the world, but building the perfect battery is not easy.
Battery makers must balance cost, driving range, safety, environmental impact, and the availability of raw materials.
A team of researchers at the University of Michigan has now developed a new framework that could help companies, governments, and consumers make better decisions when designing and choosing EV batteries.
The study, published in the Journal of Energy Storage, aims to help everyone involved in the battery industry understand the trade-offs that come with different battery technologies.
These stakeholders include battery manufacturers, car companies, policymakers, drivers, and battery recycling businesses.
According to the researchers, improving one part of a battery often means making compromises somewhere else.
Their new framework encourages decision-makers to look at the entire life cycle of a battery, from mining raw materials and manufacturing to vehicle use and recycling at the end of its life.
The researchers worked with experts from universities, industry, and government to examine the economic, environmental, and social impacts of different battery choices. Their goal was to create a practical guide that helps people understand how one decision can affect many others.
Electric vehicles already offer many advantages over traditional petrol and diesel cars. They produce no tailpipe pollution, are quieter to drive, require less maintenance, and usually cost less to operate over time.
Many experts believe they are the future of transportation, but improving battery technology remains one of the biggest challenges.
One example involves two of the most common battery types used in electric vehicles today.
Lithium iron phosphate batteries, known as LFP batteries, have become very popular in China, where electric vehicles account for more than 60% of new car sales. LFP batteries are less expensive because they do not contain costly metals such as cobalt and nickel. Since the battery is responsible for about 30% of an EV’s total cost, using cheaper materials can make electric vehicles more affordable for buyers.
However, LFP batteries also have disadvantages. They store less energy for their weight, meaning they usually need to be larger and heavier to provide the same driving range as other battery types. This can reduce how far a vehicle can travel on a single charge.
Another widely used battery type is called NMC, which contains nickel, manganese, and cobalt. These batteries can store more energy and usually provide a longer driving range. However, they are more expensive because they rely on valuable metals. On the positive side, those metals also make old NMC batteries more attractive for recycling, reducing the need to mine new materials.
Researchers are also exploring a newer battery chemistry called lithium manganese-rich, or LMR. This technology could combine the lower cost of LFP batteries with the longer driving range of NMC batteries. However, scientists are still working to improve its long-term durability.
The researchers believe their new framework can help guide future battery development by showing the strengths and weaknesses of each option.
By considering costs, performance, sustainability, and recycling together, they hope the industry can develop electric vehicle batteries that are better for consumers, businesses, and the environment.
