news

Solid-state batteries are the new arms race: Car giants race to be first

The announcements are coming in thick and fast as a number of companies race to be first with a solid-state battery.


A tech company in the US has announced it is now producing 20 amp-hour (Ah) solid-state batteries for automotive applications.

Solid-state batteries are an important next-step for electric vehicles (EVs), improving safety, range, weight, and charging times, compared to more conventional lithium-ion batteries currently used.

The Colorado-based company Solid Power – which enjoys financial backing from BMW and Ford – says it is making the 20Ah, multi-layer solid-state batteries for EVs, as it works towards developing large-format manufacturing processes.

The lithium-ion batteries currently found in EVs use a semi-liquid construction, which can catch fire when overheated or punctured, forcing car makers to add cooling systems and 'armour' – adding weight and reducing the effective driving range of lithium-ion-powered cars.

Solid-state batteries, on the other hand, use more stable solid materials, as the name suggests. They work over a wider temperature range and are less susceptible to damage, as well as deliver a higher energy density, weigh less, and have a quicker charging time – overcoming many common criticisms of today's EV battery technology.

Solid Power says it expects to further improve the energy density of its solid-state batteries by 20 per cent by the year 2022.

Top: Solid Power's 22-layer, 20Ah all solid-state lithium metal cell next to its first-generation 10-layer, 2Ah cell. Above: Toyota's battery-electric vehicle concept, expected to be unveiled in production form in 2021. Bottom: Volkswagen's all-electric ID.4.

Toyota also made a major announcement in the past week, claiming it will introduce a solid-state battery in 2021 which will be capable of being fully recharged in only 10 minutes.

The Japanese car company had planned to demonstrate a fully-functional electric vehicle using the battery technology at the now-postponed 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

The first of Toyota's all-electric SUVs – based on the brand's e-TNGA architecture, and co-developed with Subaru – is expected to be unveiled in 2021, with a potential market launch in 2022 or 2023.

Earlier this month, Volkswagen-backed company QuantumScape said its solid-state batteries would be ready for production by 2024, claiming the tech will be suitable for environmental conditions down to -30 degrees celsius – far lower than its competitors.

With a number of governments around the world planning to ban sales of vehicles powered solely by internal combustion engines by 2030, the onslaught of announcements regarding solid-state batteries suggests electrified vehicles could look a lot different by the end of this decade.


Ben Zachariah

Ben Zachariah is an experienced writer and motoring journalist from Melbourne, having worked in the automotive industry for more than two decades. Ben began writing professionally more than 15 years ago and was previously an interstate truck driver. He completed his MBA in Finance in early 2021 and is considered an expert on classic car investment.

Read more about Ben ZachariahLinkIcon
Chat with us!







Chat with Agent