Solid-state battery: Is this the battery of the future?
The solid-state battery is considered the beacon of hope in the field of e-mobility - although the first series-produced electric car with the new battery type is unlikely to be available before 2028. You can find out what manufacturers expect from the technology here.
Solid-state battery or solid-state battery?
"Battery" is often used as an umbrella term for electrochemical energy storage systems. A distinction is made between "primary batteries" (non-rechargeable and often simply referred to as "batteries") and "secondary batteries" (rechargeable and often called rechargeable batteries or accumulators). A battery therefore also counts as a battery.
Since the terms "solid-state battery" and "solid-state battery" are also often used synonymously in everyday life, we will also do the same in this article.
What is a solid-state battery: structure and material
Batteries are basically equipped with two electrodes: an anode (negative) and a cathode (positive). Electrons or free ions move between these two Poland. But in order for them to be able to move back and forth without any problems, they need a leading medium. For this purpose, the so-called electrolyte is used. In the conventional lithium-ion batteries used so far, this substance is liquid.
In the case of a solid-state battery, on the other hand, the corresponding material should be solid, as the name suggests. In all likelihood, the material will be a special ceramic structure. This enables the use of alternative anode marerial, such as lithium (instead of graphite as before). This has a higher electrochemical potential and so the energy density of solid-state batteries is higher – in theory up to 11 kWh/kg. In fact, however, 1 kWh/kg is more realistic, which would correspond to four times the energy density of lithium-ion batteries.
At the cathode, a combination of lithium, manganese, nickel and cobalt is usually used as the material.
The difference between a solid-state battery and a conventional lithium-ion battery is therefore quite simple – but absolutely revolutionary.
Structure of a lithium-ion battery compared to a solid-state battery.
Solid-state battery: advantages and disadvantages at a glance
The advantages of the solid-state battery
According to current estimates, the solid-state battery will be a battery without a real weak point in the long term. On the one hand, the "miracle battery" is supposed to be much more compact and lighter than the batteries currently in use. Due to the fact that their electrolyte is solid, it can be thinner than a liquid separating layer. On the other hand, the solid substance that is inside the battery is practically non-flammable. Thus, a car equipped with a solid-state battery has a much lower risk of fire and is therefore considered safer than a vehicle with a conventional lithium-ion battery.
If the manufacturers and their development departments have their way, the new solid-state battery should also be able to store ten times as much energy as conventional lithium-ion batteries and thus provide a significantly longer range. According to experts, this can even be up to 30% more. The charging time is also said to be shorter than with the batteries currently in use.
In this way, solid-state batteries would counteract the two biggest criticisms of electric cars, namely range and charging time.
With a solid-state battery, the charging time should be significantly reduced, while the range should be increased at the same time.
The disadvantages of the solid-state battery
Solid-state batteries are currently still in a development phase. The laboratory is currently still working on ensuring that no dendrites, small lithium branches, form in the batteries. These can lead to short circuits and thus reduce the service life.
In addition, the charging capacity at low temperatures and the fast charging capability of the battery are analyzed. For both, proof of practice is still required.
The development departments are currently working feverishly on profitable solutions, because of course the new technology should also be financially worthwhile. In order to achieve the desired price-performance ratio, the production method must be optimized accordingly – and this may take a few more years.
Until all goals are achieved, the conventional liquid electrolyte battery will continue to serve as the preferred propulsion technology.
Latest news from solid statebattery manufacturers
Renowned car manufacturers such as Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Volkswagen and Audi have long since set their sights on solid-state batteries and are currently spending large sums of money on the further development of the technology.
Car manufacturers such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Audi are currently investing a lot of money in the development of a new type of solid-state battery.
Volkswagen alone has already invested a whopping 500 million dollars in the US start-up Quantumscape since 2018. The company is considered a pioneer with regard to the new solid-state battery.
As it was announced in January 2024, the prototype of the QSE-5 standard cell has passed the first long-term test (also known as the A-pattern test) after 1,000 charging cycles. Further tests are to follow.
BMW is also very ambitious in terms of the development of solid-state batteries. Together with Ford, the Munich-based carmaker has invested around 130 million dollars in the company Solid Power. The goal: to develop a marketable solid-state battery as quickly as possible. BMW wants to launch its first vehicle with the new battery technology as early as 2025.Solid Power is expected to deliver the first cells for this in 2024.
Mercedes-Benz is developing solid-state batteries together with the Taiwanese company ProLogium, which it plans to use in production models between 2025 and 2030.
Hyundai filed its own patent for solid-state batteries with the US Patent Office in December 2023. Work is being done on both LFP and NMC batteries (LFP: lithium iron phosphate, NMC: nickel-manganese-cobalt).
The Japanese manufacturer Toyota also wants to install the solid-state battery in its electric cars, according to its battery roadmap as early as 2027 In the first step, batteries are planned that will enable a range of up to 1,000 kilometers (and later even more). However, little details are known so far.
Other manufacturers such as Volkswagen (2026) or Nissan (2028) have a similar schedule.
Tesla goes its own way
Tesla has always been considered a pioneer in the field of e-mobility. It is all the more surprising that the US manufacturer is one of the few carmakers not (yet) to focus on the development of a solid-state battery. Instead, Tesla is focusing on developing an even more efficient battery with thick round cells in the 4680 format. As before, this is supposed to come with liquid electrolyte and achieve an energy density of 300 Wh per kilogram. The reason for the focus on the further development of lithium-ion batteries could be that the technology has already proven itself over the last 30 years and it has been widely tested. However, it cannot be ruled out that Tesla will jump on the solid-state battery bandwagon at some point.
When will the solid-state battery arrive?
Almost all major e-car manufacturers are conducting research into the development of the solid-state battery. So it can be assumed that the batteries will be used in the next few years. Since the new technology has higher material costs, it will probably be installed in more expensive vehicles first. However, it depends in particular on the specific needs of the customer which battery you use in the future. And on what e-car drivers are willing to pay for it.
By the way: By using climate-friendly raw materials, the CO₂ footprint of e-cars could be further reduced by solid-state batteries in the future.
It is unlikely that the solid-state battery will completely displace the lithium-ion battery from the market in the foreseeable future. After all, the technology currently used has a development lead of about 30 years. In addition, it can be assumed that their performance will increase even more in the future, as Tesla's efforts to further develop round cell batteries show. In any case, a solid-state battery ready for series production will continue to fuel the technological race for the most efficient battery.