New Battery and Energy Storage Technology

Learn more about the latest in new battery technology and discover the next generation in battery and energy storage with expert analysis by Power Systems Research analysts.

Black Mass, Black Gold, And the Truth About EV Battery Recycling

“Black mass” is a term used to refer to the residual compound formed by shredding of li-ion batteries that have reached the end of their usable life cycle. It is a huge task and challenge to recover the valuable cathode elements (lithium, nickel, manganese, and cobalt) entwined within the battery and upcycling them into usable battery materials.

RecycLiCo is among the first companies to turn that black mass into what is referred to as “black gold.” They do this by recovering almost all of the cathode materials within black mass and upcycling them into battery-grade precursor cathode active material (pCAM) and lithium that can be used again in the battery manufacturing process.

Source: CleanTechnica: Read The Article

PSR Analysis:  EV detractors are quick to point out the massive cost of mining the battery metals (lithium, nickel, cobalt, and manganese) that make up the core of modern li-ion car batteries. This is a cost that may take tens of thousands of miles to get ahead of. But those detractors are missing a critical bit of information: battery recycling, and if it can be done effectively and in a low cost manner, it will go some way to alleviating the shortages of these materials.   PSR

Guy Youngs is Forecast & Adoption Lead at Power Systems Research

Redesigned Zinc-Air Batteries ‘Better’ than Lithium, say Researchers

Researchers at Edith Cowan University in Australia have redesigned zinc-air batteries and have found the technology to be preferable to lithium-ion batteries – even for electric vehicles, and they claim to have overcome the technology’s notorious power output limitations.

Zinc-air batteries consist of a zinc negative electrode and an air positive electrode. The chemistry holds promise and is significantly more sustainable than lithium-based counterparts, but the poor performance of air electrodes and short lifespan has limited the technology’s power output.

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Outdoor Power Equipment Shifts To Electric

Michael Aistrup

In recent years, there has been a noticeable shift towards environmentally friendly and energy-efficient outdoor power equipment in the global market. This shift is evident in both the consumer and the construction markets. Battery-powered tools have gained popularity because of their lower emissions, reduced noise levels, and convenience.

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BYD Establishes JV To Produce Sodium-Ion EV Batteries

Guy Youngs
Guy Youngs

Chinese automotive conglomerate BYD is establishing a joint venture with Huaihai Holding Group to establish themselves as the world’s largest supplier of sodium-ion batteries for small EVs. Previously, we’ve seen CATL (BYD’s main competitor), announce plans to produce sodium-ion cells.

Sodium-ion batteries deliver a lower energy density than traditional lithium-ion cells but cost notably less to produce. Their main component (sodium) is also safer and more abundant than lithium. The chemistry is ideal for smaller EVs that generally deliver less range and have less demand on a daily mobility basis.

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Alternative Power Report, June 2023

There’s plenty of news about global EV battery activities in the June issue of the Alternative Power Report produced by Power Systems Research. Read about the battery recycling operation planned for Europe, the controversy over energy use between advocates of Hydrogen and batteries and much more.

Hyundai Motor and LG Energy To Build Battery Plant in U.S.

FAR EAST: SOUTH KOREA REPORT
Akihiro Komuro
Akihiro Komuro

South Korea’s Hyundai Motor Group and LG Energy Solutions said they plan to build a joint automotive battery plant in the United States.

They will split the total investment of $4.3 billion (about 600 billion yen) on a 50-50 basis and plan to start operations by the end of 2025. As conditions for EV subsidies in the U.S. become clearer, several local investment plans are in the works.

The new plant will be built in Bryan County, Georgia. With a standard production capacity of 30 gigawatt-hours per year, it will be able to supply batteries for approximately 300,000 EVs. In addition to Hyundai Motor’s dedicated EV plant in Georgia, the plant will also supply batteries to Kia’s plant in Georgia and Hyundai Motor’s plant in Alabama.

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XCMG To Produce EV Trucks in Brazil in Two years

Fabio Ferraresi
Fabio Ferraresi

XCMG announced plans to produce battery electric trucks in Brazil at Pouso Alegre (MG) plant in two years. Until then, the company expects to build a local network of suppliers and wait for new industrial policies that are expected for the electric vehicle segment.

The current plan consists of starting with the assembly of chassis and cabins at the Minas Gerais plant with components produced by local suppliers. Batteries and other components of the electric powertrain will be imported from China.

This first stage fits the company’s electric trucks within the scope of Finame, the BNDES credit line that finances the acquisition of machinery and equipment. To access this line, the product to be financed must have a certain percentage of parts and components produced in the country.

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Global Electric Scooter Market Could Reach $56B in 2033

GLOBAL REPORT
Michael Aistrup
Michael Aistrup

The global electric scooter market is growing at a rate that will enable it to surpass $56 billion by the end of 2033, according to a forecast by. Power Systems Research. The forecast predicts a projected growth rate of 9.72% by 2033.

This high growth rate is attributed to the rising demand for electric vehicles because of the increasing worldwide population.

An Electric Vehicle (EV) is a vehicle that runs on electricity/battery power. Electric vehicles have low running costs due to fewer moving parts and are environmentally friendly as they use little or no fossil fuels. Some EVs use lead-acid or nickel-metal hydride batteries, but lithium-ion batteries are now used in battery-powered electric vehicles for their long life, excellent energy storage, and low self-discharge rate.

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