Solid-State Batteries Are Coming, But Face Manufacturing Hurdles

Many auto manufacturers are looking to solid-state batteries as a way to improve the efficiency and cost of electric vehicles, but there are barriers preventing them from mass production, reports Inside EVs.

With researching showing solid-state batteries are more efficient, charge faster, and have better temperature control than lithium-ion batteries, automakers including Mercedes-Benz, Stellantis, and Hyundai are working on implenting the technology in their vehicles soon. 

However, mass production of solid-state batteries would require an overhaul of existing manufacturing facilities and supply chains.

“Part of the timeline issue is that you can't use the same manufacturing plants and processes for SSBs,” explained Liz Najman, director of market insights at battery health and data start-up Recurrent. “You need to build everything new, which requires money and time.”

In the meantime, semi-solid state batteries have been utilized as a short-term solution. Rather than using a fully liquid or solid electrolyte like a solid-state battery, a semi-solid state battery has a gel-like electrolyte, and can more easily integrate with facilities producing lithium-ion batteries.

Inside EVs included a paper from the National Science Foundation suggesting that for solid-state battery manufacturing to take off, processes from pre-existing structures put in place would need to be adapted.

“Solid-state battery manufacturing will likely be a hybrid approach which adopts processes from both conventional LIBs and solid oxide fuel cell communities,” wrote the Foundation.