Electric vehicles are a growing trend even in today’s world driven primarily by pollution and the need to prevent further climate change and battery technologies have become the leading facilitators of this transition. With the surge in the EV market, the focus of the car manufacturers as well as the scientific community is now on reduction in the costs of the EV batteries. Two particular batteries that appear to be making a significant difference are the lithium iron phosphate (LFP) and Sodium-ion batteries.
The Importance of LFP and Sodium-Ion EV batteries
In terms of costs, safety and life, lithium iron phosphate batteries (LFP) are likely to gain ground. LFP batteries are operated on cheap, abundant materials different from the ones used in common lithium ion cells, making them a viable option. Besides, LFP type cells are able to withstand considerable abuse which negates the necessity of their periodic replacements and lowers the cost in general.
Sodium-ion batteries, on the other hand are shooting to the naught, and it is believed that they are poised to bring about changes in the market. These batteries, because they are dependent on sodium instead of lithium, which is more cost effective, they provide less problematic solution. While certain limitations such as energy density, which is the ability of the battery to store energy when compared to lithium, are not at par yet, there is progress being made that will narrow this gap in the near future.
Effect on EV Market
The employment of the dynamics of these technologies is expected to bring down the manufacturing cost of EVs considerably. Cheaper EVs can also expand the market beyond the premium customers even to price sensitive areas. It shall hasten the implementation of electric vehicles as eco-friendly technologies. This is especially the case in nations whose fuel policies require all public transportation systems to adopt cleaner energy sources.
Other than economic advantages, one can also anticipate improved performances of these systems by the leveraging of these new technologies. There is strive towards the use of more gentle raw materials in both LFP and sodium EV batteries that can be used at the expense of the environment’s lessening degradation by the manufacture of raw materials.