Promising new research chips away at the impediments to introducing solid-state batteries for the high-volume - but high-expectation - automotive market. Battery engineers targeting electric vehicles (EVs) continue to research designs with solid-state electrolyte because of the alluring twin promises of significantly higher energy densities - which lead to longer driving range - and greatly enhanced safety that comes with eliminating liquidous electrolytes. Additional presumed advantages for solid-state batteries are quicker recharging and longer lifespan - not to mention the potential to reduce the amount of critical, high-cost minerals required for lithium-ion battery chemistries. Solid-state technology is far from perfected for automotive-scale production and with increasing global interest in EVs as an answer to climate change and fossil-fuel supply concerns, barely a May passes without the breathless announcement of some new battery breakthrough.
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