Whether it's powering electric vehicles (EVs), drones, or power tools, tracking steps through fitness trackers, or even storing unimaginable amounts of energy, there's one common factor that ties them all together: batteries.
One of the objects we use every day of our lives is in charge of one of the biggest transitions of our time: saving the planet and becoming more environmentally conscious.
From the revolution in electric vehicles to the role of renewable energy and enabling the development of next generation technology, the battery is at the forefront of it all.
The EV revolution depends on batteries
The battery, a small and commonly underappreciated component, has a heavy weight on its shoulders and will enable many industries, including electric vehicles, to transition to clean energy and thus make oil, coal, and gas are less necessary.
Electric vehicle sales reached a record 3 million in 2020, a 40% increase from 2019. This growth contrasts with the overall car market, which fell 16% due to the COVID-19 crisis. As such, there are now more than 10 million electric vehicles on the road, which equates to roughly 1% of the global car stock.
Furthermore, the net-zero emissions scenario for 2050 predicts 300 million electric vehicles on the roads, as they now account for more than 60% of new car sales, compared to just 4.6% in 2020.
Therefore, with the projected number of electric vehicles expected on the roads in the coming years, battery supply will need to meet demand, making batteries a key factor in decarbonizing the planet.
The renewable energies
With the topic of renewable energies constantly on the table, it is no longer just a matter of countries being greener, but of being self-sufficient. Seeking to be as autonomous as possible when it comes to energy, nations are planning how they can disconnect from outside providers.
Germany, for example, initially aimed to get 100% of its energy from renewable sources by 2050, but is now aiming for 2035. This illustrates how nations are striving to stop relying on others and instead seek energy independence. .
Also, once renewable energy is produced, it needs to be stored. As countries invest in local power production plants, including wind and solar farms, they are also investing in battery development facilities.
For example, Italy is supporting the Stellantis battery plant with €369 million, highlighting the importance of renewable energy and reliability.
The path to a green planet
In addition to being used in electric vehicles and increasing renewable energy storage, batteries also play an important role in enabling next-generation technology to improve mobility, wearable devices, and communications, among many others.
In fact, the battery is becoming one of the major players in enabling more powerful household appliances and creating a greener planet for our generation and those to come.
One of the main drawbacks of batteries today is the limitation of performance and, in the case of electric vehicles, having to choose between autonomy and power. The new battery design allows the batteries to be more efficient, opening the door to various performance improvements such as longer range and faster charge time.
These improvements will lead to more widespread adoption of battery-powered devices which, in turn, will enable a shift to a greener planet.