Lithium-ion batteries have long been the best alternative for understanding electric mobility in the near future. The standardization of the sustainable vehicle in terms of emissions is related to the inclusion of lithium, a compound that would replace internal combustion engines within a few years.
Today, any other alternative has not changed the minds of car manufacturers, but we must be very attentive to the changes that could occur after the discovery of metal-air batteries.
Today we discuss in our blog how metal-air batteries could have an extensive development in sustainable mobility. This could lead to a change from the usual mechanics based on fossil fuels to other more eco-friendly ideas.
Metal-air Batteries: what do they consist on?
The automotive industry has chosen lithium-ion batteries, although it is true that there are other types of alternatives, such as solid-state and graphite batteries that have not evolved because of their high running costs.
Among the advantages we find in metal-air batteries, the most significant lies in having a higher density than lithium ion, so that would allow this type of batteries offers the car a greater autonomy for each charge cycle. Thanks to them, one of the major concerns of car manufacturers, such as autonomy, would be minimized in a considerable way.
Why should we draw attention to this type of battery? It is mainly because they manage to obtain a specific energy between seven and eight times more than we have at present. A standard type battery could give an average-sized electric car about 500 kilometres of range.
At the same time, bearing in mind that one of its electrodes is the oxygen in the air, the cost of manufacturing metal-air batteries would be significantly reduced (up to 100€/kWh), with the advantages that this entails in the manufacturing process.
Not everything is an advantage in Metal-Air Batteries
Not all are goodies when it comes to this type of battery. The biggest disadvantage lies in the deterioration of metal electrodes, which corrode very easily if the electric vehicle is not started for a considerable time. The solution is that the user has the obligation to move the car to avoid the corrosion we mentioned before. As it was not considered profitable for car manufacturers, its development had to be stopped.
What does the future look like?
Over the next few months we will see whether the arrival of metal-air batteries on the market becomes a reality. It should also be noted that the use of some materials such as aluminium would lead to a more than significant reduction in the weight of the entire device and would have a significant impact on energy consumption. We will still have to wait to see if this novelty increases the possibilities of electrical mechanics about mobility.
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