Lithium-ion batteries have come a long way in recent years but often fail to reach the energy density needed for long-haul travel.
This March, Chinese researchers revealed a new technical development for lithium batteries that may allow the batteries to be used for long-distance driving — and potentially even for aviation.
The researchers have designed a rechargeable pouch-type lithium battery with a “gravimetric energy density” of 711.3 watt-hours per kilogram (Wh/kg).
This essentially suggests that the batteries can cover a greater distance between charges and could help where weight matters (as for aviation), Clean Technica notes. In comparison, current practical lithium-ion batteries only have a capacity of around 300 Wh/kg.
This development was the result of the researchers’ efforts to increase the active components in the battery, as well as technologies like “high-loading electrode preparation and lean electrolyte injection,” according to the research abstract. No need to Google all of that — basically, it means they’re trying to make more efficient batteries.
Despite this new technological advancement for lithium batteries, there are still numerous limitations that research will still have to overcome before the new batteries can compete with current commercial batteries.
Most notably, batteries with higher energy density — which can go longer distances with less frequent charging — will be significantly more expensive than less advanced batteries until the technology becomes more widespread, as CleanTechnica notes.
