Solid state batteries can reduce the carbon footprint of electric vehicle batteries by almost two-fifths – further increasing EVs’ advantage over fossil fuel vehicles. That’s according to research commissioned by Transport & Environment (T&E) from Minviro, a company specialised in raw material life-cycle analysis, which compared emerging solid state technology to current battery chemistries.
A solid state battery, which stores more energy with less materials, can reduce the already decreasing carbon footprint of an electric car battery by a further 24%, the study finds. The analysis compares a NMC-811 solid state battery, which is one of the most promising chemistries being developed, to current lithium-ion technology.
Solid state technology uses solid ceramic material instead of liquid electrolytes to carry electric current, also making the batteries lighter, faster to charge and eventually cheaper. Battery manufacturers forecast that solid state batteries will be used in EVs in the second half of the decade.