Can lithium metal batteries double the range of electric vehicles?

Lithium metal batteries could double the range of electric vehicles, but current batteries degrade quickly during operation. Stanford researchers have discovered that you can improve the battery’s cycle life simply by letting it rest for several hours in the discharged state.

Can a lithium-ion battery power an EV?

“An EV with a state-of-the-art lithium metal battery would lose range at a much faster rate than an EV powered by a lithium-ion battery,” Zhang said. A micron-size piece of isolated lithium is trapped in the solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) matrix when a lithium metal battery discharges.

Could a lithium-metal battery be a solution to a problem?

A new study presents possible solutions to a problem known to cause degradation and failure in lithium-metal batteries. | alengo/iStock Next-generation electric vehicles could run on lithium metal batteries that go 500 to 700 miles on a single charge, twice the range of conventional lithium-ion batteries in EVs today.

Can a lithium battery rest in a discharged state?

Researchers at Stanford University have discovered that allowing lithium metal batteries to rest in a discharged state can significantly restore their capacity and extend their cycle life.

Are rechargeable lithium ion batteries a viable option for electric vehicles?

While the initial rechargeable LIBs emerged as the preferred option for portable electronics during the 1990s because of elevated energy densities, an immediate utilization of LIBs in electric vehicles initiated a new phase of increased research and commercialization efforts in the field of LIBs .

What happens if a battery is idle?

In previous work, Sayavong and his colleagues discovered that the SEI matrix begins to dissolve when the battery is idle. Based on that finding, the Stanford team decided to see what would happen if the battery was allowed to rest while discharged.