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Solid state batteries. Prototypes work, but high-volume manufacturing doesn't work yet. The major battery manufacturers are all trying to get this to production

Solid state batteries. Prototypes work, but high-volume manufacturing doesn't work yet. The major battery manufacturers are all trying to get this to production. Early versions will probably be expensive. Maybe a 2x improvement in kwh/kg. Much less risk of fire or thermal runaway. Charging in < 10 mins.

Teever 2y ago
The one thing I'm curious about with solid state batteries is if there's a path towards incremental improvements in power density like we've seen with lithium batteries? It would be unfortunate if we get solid state batteries that have the great features that you describe but they're limited to 2x or so power density. Twice the power density opens a lot of doors for technology improvements and innovation but it's still limiting for really cool things like humanoid robotics and large scale battery powered aircraft.
- Animats 2y ago
  Somebody may come up with a new battery chemistry. There are many people trying. There are constraints other than energy density - charge rate, discharge rate, safety, lifetime, cooling, etc. Lithium-air batteries have an energy density which potentially approaches that of gasoline, but decades of work have not produced anything usable.[1] There are, of course, small startups promising usable lithium-air batteries Real Soon Now.[2] [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithium%E2%80%93air_battery https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithium%E2%80%93air_battery [2] https://airenergyllc.com/ https://airenergyllc.com/
- mgfist 2y ago
  For aircraft, hydrogen is the better option. Batteries are fine for very short hauls (100 miles). Beyond that hydrogen is quite good.
  - adgjlsfhk1 2y ago
    The big issues with hydrogen are volume and form factor. Hydrogen needs to be cryogenic or high pressure, and either work best with big spheroid-like tanks which don't naturally integrate into the wings where fuel is currently stored.
brcmthrowaway 2y ago
What about LK-99? Twitter influencers were talking about that.

Teever 2y ago

The one thing I'm curious about with solid state batteries is if there's a path towards incremental improvements in power density like we've seen with lithium batteries? It would be unfortunate if we get solid state batteries that have the great features that you describe but they're limited to 2x or so power density. Twice the power density opens a lot of doors for technology improvements and innovation but it's still limiting for really cool things like humanoid robotics and large scale battery powered aircraft.

Animats 2y ago
Somebody may come up with a new battery chemistry. There are many people trying. There are constraints other than energy density - charge rate, discharge rate, safety, lifetime, cooling, etc. Lithium-air batteries have an energy density which potentially approaches that of gasoline, but decades of work have not produced anything usable.[1] There are, of course, small startups promising usable lithium-air batteries Real Soon Now.[2] [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithium%E2%80%93air_battery https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithium%E2%80%93air_battery [2] https://airenergyllc.com/ https://airenergyllc.com/
mgfist 2y ago
For aircraft, hydrogen is the better option. Batteries are fine for very short hauls (100 miles). Beyond that hydrogen is quite good.
- adgjlsfhk1 2y ago
  The big issues with hydrogen are volume and form factor. Hydrogen needs to be cryogenic or high pressure, and either work best with big spheroid-like tanks which don't naturally integrate into the wings where fuel is currently stored.

brcmthrowaway 2y ago

What about LK-99? Twitter influencers were talking about that.