The battery market is improving yearly, prices are decreasing, and energy density is increasing. Along with that, today we have more advanced BMS and battery technology, but we’re all stuck at one point, i.e., charging speed yes, we have numerous options to fast charge our EV today, but doing it regularly is neither economically practical nor it’s suitable for a healthy battery. So, we need flexible alternatives for the sustainable mass adoption of electric vehicles.
Until now, Li-ion is known to be the best option for every battery-operated instrument, which is true in most cases. However, when it comes to electric vehicles, batteries must be capable of getting fully charged quickly, save for use in every environment. They must be coming from a sustainable source.
Li-ion batteries ‘lack’ the following properties:
- Sustainable materials
- Fast charging capability
- More charging cycles
- Better safety ratings.
This is why we are here talking about the alternative of the li-ion batteries:
So, in this blog post, we’re gonna look at some of the best alternatives of li-ion batteries which might be powering electric vehicles in future.
7 Li-ion battery Alternatives:
Solid-State Batteries
Well, this technology isn’t new for us. We’ve seen multiple developments since 1830 when scientists discovered this material, but a monumental advancement was seen in solid-state batteries when a French company used this technology in vehicles and released the first Solid-state battery-powered electric car into the market.
Here’s why solid-state batteries are a better replacement for Li-ion batteries.
It uses a solid material like ceramic in place of the fire-activating liquid electrolyte in the Li-ion batteries, making a solid-state battery safer and a better range option than the Li-ion batteries. The solid-state battery can have 50-100% more range than the Li-ion batteries.
2. Lithium-Sulphur Batteries
Lithium-sulphur batteries use abundant sulphur at the cathode instead of expensive transition metals like cobalt in lithium-ion cells. This can significantly lower battery costs. Lithium sulphur also provides higher theoretical energy density, meaning increased range. However, issues like lower cycle life remain barriers to commercialisation. Companies like Oxis Energy are at the forefront of developing this technology.
3. Sodium-Ion Batteries
Sodium-ion batteries replace lithium with abundant sodium, primarily sourced from seawater. This gives them the potential for lower costs. However, sodium-ion cells today have lower energy density than lithium-ion. With improvements, sodium-ion can become a viable low-cost option for non-luxury EVs. Toshiba, Faradion, and CATL are working on commercialising sodium-ion EV batteries.
4. Hydrogen Fuel Cells
Unlike batteries, hydrogen fuel cells generate power electrochemically by combining hydrogen and oxygen. Fuel cell EVs like the Toyota Mirai and Hyundai Nexo have long ranges, fast refuelling, and zero emissions. However, high costs and a need for hydrogen infrastructure remain barriers. Continued development can help fuel cells become competitive, especially for larger vehicle applications.
5. Supercapacitors
Supercapacitors, also known as ultracapacitors, can rapidly charge and discharge. This makes them ideal for capturing regenerative braking energy. In EVs, they may serve best paired with batteries to handle high power demands. Companies like Skeleton Technologies are producing high-performance supercapacitors to integrate into electric vehicles.
6. Aluminium-Air Batteries
Aluminium-air batteries use inexpensive, abundant aluminium to generate electricity. Combined with oxygen in the air, these batteries offer high theoretical energy density and low costs. They are still in the early stages of development, but companies like Phinergy and Alcoa are working on aluminium-air battery prototypes capable of powering EVs.
7. Graphene Batteries:
Graphene is a strong, light, and conductive carbon material that shows promise for batteries. It could enable faster charging and more stable long-term storage. Graphene coating could also strengthen lithium-ion and metal batteries. However, graphene is complex to produce affordably. Companies like Graphenano are working on graphene batteries. But widespread commercial use is still years away.
Why don’t we see any Li-ion battery alternatives yet?
The above alternatives look far more promising than the lithium battery we are using currently, then why we don’t see them used widely in our day-to-day life? The reason is R&D.
Earlier when we used to launch any product into the market, it wasn’t made to go through none to very few safety or environmental criteria which is one of the major reasons why we are witnessing the biggest environmental calamities in history. So, today before any product is launched into the market it’s gone through various tests and lenses of checklist to make sure it doesn’t harm nature any further. This is one of the main reasons why it’s taking so much time for the adoption of such technological revolutions.
Conclusion: What will happen in future:
Though the Li-ion alternatives discussed show great promise for the future of EVs, most are still years away from widespread commercial viability and adoption. In the near term, continual improvements to lithium-ion technology and the buildout of EV charging infrastructure will remain critical to advancing electric vehicle adoption. But in the coming decades, next-generation batteries like solid-state, lithium-sulphur, and sodium-ion could truly unlock faster charging speeds, increased ranges, lower costs, and more sustainable electric transportation.
With intensive ongoing R&D, these alternatives may eventually supplant Li-ion as the battery chemistry of choice for EVs. But for now, Li-ion and charging networks must continue advancing to smooth the transition to electrified transportation. Ultimately, the future looks bright for EV batteries capable of delivering convenience, affordability, and sustainability on par with gas vehicles.
