It’s not surprising that popularity of electric vehicles is at an all-time high as we constantly
see more and more people make the switch from combustion to electric vehicles. EVs are safe
for the environment, economical, convenient and as the technology gets better, we find
ourselves at the dawn of the electric revolution. Now, engineers are trying to produce a battery
capable of powering an EV for up to 1 million miles without needing to be replaced. Stay
tuned in because in this video you’ll discover why Tesla’s Million Mile Battery is a Game
Changers. Be sure to click the like button. Subscribe
if you haven’t already, and ring the notification bell.
The Current Climate of the Lithium-ion Battery Currently, state-of-the-art batteries use
lithium-ion technology. 2 key items in its construction is are lithium and cobalt. Australia
is the world’s largest producer of lithium. As for the other key ingredient, cobalt; Well,
that is derived mostly from the Democratic Republic of Congo. And in case you haven’t
heard, due to this countries controversial labor laws, or lack thereof, several ethical
questions surrounding the country’s mining practices have come to light.
However, regarding performance, the main issue confronting lithium-ion batteries are their
limitations. According to Tesla founder and CEO Elon Musk,
the ever-growing industry of electric machines will require more and more batteries. Let’s
take Tesla’s highly-publicized electric Cybertruck for example. This futuristic vehicle
will require five times the number of battery cells than Tesla’s passenger cars. On the
other hand, Ford promises that its electric F-150 will be the most powerful pickup in
its line-up. Yet, that still means big batteries. And keep in mind that these batteries are
definitely heavy. Adding more battery cells brings the weight of electric vehicles significantly
above that of their gas-powered counterparts. More battery cells surely increases the power,
but also reduces the useful range. And since the demand is high, the cost of
lithium batteries has been rising rapidly with the increased desire for electric cars
worldwide. The result is a shortage of batteries. And experts claim that this is partially the
reason that the rollout of both Tesla’s Cybertruck and Ford’s electric F-150 has
been pushed into 2022. Therefore, a battery technology breakthrough
is desperately needed. EV designers and engineers must figure out a way to increase the useful
range of electrically powered machines, and also deal with the imminent long-term shortage
of lithium battery cells for all types of modern devices.
And since it did take over the EV market, no company is more sensitive to the need for
increased useful range and cell supply than Tesla. To address these regrettable issues,
Tesla is responding by researching solutions on two main fronts.
The 2 Main Plans to Produce the Million-Mile Battery
The first plan is a research agreement that was initiated in 2015 and expected to last
until 2026. This research agreement is between Tesla and Dalhousie University, and spearheaded
by Jeff Dahn who is recognized as one of the pioneering developers of the lithium-ion battery
that is now used worldwide in laptop computers, cell-phones, cars and many other mobile devices.
Now, Jeff Dahn and his team are in the process of developing new high-performance materials
for lithium-ion batteries. According to a Dalhousie news article, “Dr. Dahn’s group
has been filing patents on battery technology for Tesla that could lead to a new battery
cell enabling a million miles in a battery pack.”
Yes, it’s true. A “million-mile battery” sounds like a Holy Grail quest. So, why put
all the eggs in one basket? Well, they’re not. For their second plan to tackle the dilemma,
Tesla is finding ways to use nickel in place of cobalt.
Fortunately, nickel is relatively inexpensive and has a high energy density, which is why
its increased use in batteries is an important goal for everyone in the industry.
According to reports, Musk told Tesla shareholders that there are three new alternate battery
types under development. They consist of the iron phosphate for medium-range vehicle use
and stationary power supply applications; nickel-manganese as a medium-plus; and finally,
high-nickel for long-range applications which would be practical in vehicles like the Cybertruck.
And being the most prominent genius of today, Musk sees another benefit in transitioning
to nickel batteries, and he was quoted saying, “The battery for the first time will have
dual use: as an energy device and as structure.” According to his claims, using batteries as
part of the vehicle’s structural framework will result in a 10 percent reduction in mass,
a 14 percent increase in range, and the elimination of 370 parts.
This “dual-use” already extends to the newly announced electric excavators from Volvo
and Komatsu, where the huge batteries will also serve as counterweights.
China Is Getting in On the Action The "million-mile battery" is the key to unlock
widespread adoption of electric vehicles. And China is on the verge of having a keychain
for this goal. In an interview with Bloomberg, Contemporary
Amperex Technology Ltd or CATL CEO Zeng Yuqun made clear the hunt for the key is over. He
told reporters, "If someone places an order, we are ready to produce." He went on to explain
that a battery that lasts for 16 years and can power a vehicle for 2 million kilometers,
or 1.24 million miles is well within their capabilities. For the company, the additional
cost is 10% over the batteries CATL already produces.
Nine-year-old battery maker CATL is the world's largest EV battery maker and already supplies
several original equipment manufacturers including Daimler, Honda, Toyota, and Volkswagen. In
May of 2020, Volvo signed a multi-billion-dollar deal with CATL, and the Chinese firm is building
a factory in Erfurt, Germany, to provide BMW with 70% of its battery needs.
Also in May of 2020, CATL entered into a two-year contract to supply Tesla with batteries that
were expected to be headed for the Chinese-built Model 3. Reuters characterized the collaboration
as a joint development between Tesla and CATL that "deploys technology developed by Tesla
in collaboration with a team of academic battery experts recruited by Elon Musk." And of course,
the academic team is suspected to be led by Jeff Dahn at Dalhousie University, in Nova
Scotia, Canada. All of this sounds great, but can China’s
CATL actually pull it off? China has been known to create sub-standard products. As
research firm Canalys claims, Yuqun's metrics are "significant but difficult to verify."
But if the battery works as advertised with efficiency and usable longevity, it could
rewrite how we engage with electric vehicles. The mileage claim is more than eight times
longer than the lengthiest battery warranty we know of, more than six times longer than
the service mileage estimate for today's packs, and a 16-year lifespan means the pack will
greatly outlive almost all the cars it first gets installed in. The longevity would blow
open the used EV market for the original vehicles, and expand possibilities by being swap out
and install them in other vehicles.
The GM Million-Mile Battery Power Plant It wasn’t very long after the release of
the breaking news of Tesla's collaboration with CATL in China, Doug Parks, head of global
product development and purchasing at General Motors, said in an interview with Reuters
that GM was “almost there” on development of its very own million-mile battery.
Parks claimed that GM is actively developing more advanced batteries than their Ultium
battery. And, head of the global electrification and battery systems at GM, Tim Grewe, explained
to Green Car Reports that GM is laying the groundwork for batteries that will easily
deliver 500-600 miles of range per charge and will endure up to or over 1 million miles
before needing to be replaced. The upcoming Ultium battery is a joint venture
between GM and South Korea’s LG Chem. It’s planned for the battery to first appear in
the Cadillac Lyriq and GMC Hummer. Are you looking forward to getting your EV
with the million-mile battery? And what brand and model of EV do you favor? Be sure to leave
your thoughts in the comments section, then be sure to like, subscribe, ring the notification
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