In sustainable transportation, the conversation often pivots to the technology powering our journey toward a greener future. At the heart of this dialogue is the evolution of battery technology, particularly lithium-ion batteries, which have become a cornerstone for electric vehicles (EVs). Dr. Veronika Wright also known as Electrified Veronika™ offers a glimpse into the significant strides made in this field, emphasizing the advancements in lithium-ion technology that allow vehicles to achieve impressive ranges on a single charge. Yet, the narrative doesn’t halt at current capabilities; it extends into exploring future possibilities and challenges.

How can the automotive industry balance the need for energy-dense batteries with the imperative to reduce reliance on critical raw materials?

Dr. Wright delves into this by highlighting a shift towards more sustainable battery chemistries that forego rare materials like cobalt, in favor of alternatives that could offer a more eco-friendly blueprint for the future of electric mobility.

“I think with today’s lithium-ion battery technology, we are at a point where we can easily get like two hundred, three hundred, and even four hundred miles on one single charge… So I believe within the next ten years, in the passenger vehicle sector, will actually move away from this very energy-dense battery chemistry and probably more move towards cheaper, which means probably less energy-dense chemistry and also chemistry that does not contain so many critical raw materials,” Dr. Wright said.

Article written by Sonia Gossai