evee Central

Are solid-state batteries finally ready to live up to the hype?

Harvard researchers have made a solid-state battery that charges in ten minutes and lasts for 30 years, but the much-hyped technology remains a long-horizon solution for the energy transition.

People are slowly but surely embracing electric vehicles (EVs), but the pace of that transition still needs to accelerate for the world to hit its net-zero emissions target in 2050. Despite the exponential improvements of EVs, many drivers are still reluctant to leave behind the convenience of their petrol-powered cars. Along with cost, concerns over a lack of charging stations and battery life were cited as the main barriers for US consumers buying an EV in an Ipsos Mori survey last year. For car manufacturers, much of this comes down to the persistent restrictions on range and longevity of the incumbent lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries under EVs’ bonnets.

However, a team of scientists at Harvard University believe they have taken an important step toward solving these quandaries. Researchers at the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences (SEAS) have developed a new “solid-state” battery that can charge in the time it takes to fill up a petrol tank, and endure 3–6 times more charge cycles than the typical EV battery.

Solid-state batteries have long been considered the holy grail for a widespread transition to electrified transportation, and the race to commercialise them has sped up in recent years. The likes of Toyota and Volkswagen are developing their own versions, which they hope to get into vehicles by the end of the decade. With the boost of this latest innovation from Harvard, are solid-state batteries finally ready to live up to their hype?