#37 The Future of Electric Batteries (with Prof. Ann Mari Svensson, NTNU)

Ann Mari Svensson is a Professor at NTNU's Materials Science and Engineering department. She specializes in electrochemical processes for energy storage and electrolysis, which is important for developing new battery technologies. ntnu.edu/employees/annmari.svensson

The future is electric, and batteries will play a big role in it. Renewables, like wind and solar, don't consistently deliver energy when we need it the most. Batteries can alleviate this, by providing storage and lending flexibility to the grid system. Ever thought about the fact that more and more people own electric cars, which are basically big batteries, hooked up to the system when charging? In theory, there are several amazing possibilities on the horizon. What are the current hurdles we need to overcome, and what is today's status?

Traditional electric batteries

• Led Acid batteries - first invented in 1859 and hence a low energy density in comparison to today’s standard. However still often used in cars to start gas or diesel engines.
• Nickel–cadmium (Ni-Cd) batteries - of limited use today because of toxicity, and limited energy density.
• Nickel–metal hydride (Ni-MH) batteries – used by first Toyota with their Prius hybrid models; outcompeted by lithium-ion batteries due to their limited energy density.

Lithium-Ion (Li-Ion) batteries

• Lithium Iron phosphate (‘LFP’) - good in terms of safety, cost and durability, but not great in terms of energy density; not so problematic in terms of mining, human rights and child labour; often used in stationary applications.
• Nickel Cobalt Aluminum (NCA) batteries - better in terms of energy density in comparison to LFP batteries, but difficult in terms of supply chain, child labour and human rights.
• Nickel cobalt manganese (NMC) batteries - similarly difficult in terms of supply chain, child labour and human rights.

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