Can Sulfur-Based Batteries Become Next-Gen Power Cells for Electric Vehicles?
To address the challenges associated with rising power demand, backup power, and power outages in electric vehicles (EVs), energy storage systems are increasingly used in the modern power system infrastructure. Currently, most EVs across the globe are powered by lithium-ion batteries.
However, certain aspects, such as the long-range, low-cost, and high-utilization transportation market, are incompatible with the current lithium-ion battery technologies. Moreover, the increasing demand for high-capacity energy storage systems is anticipating the demand for advanced battery systems, such as sulfur-based batteries, in the future.
To meet and manage these demands, researchers have brought up the concept of lithium-sulfur and sodium-sulfur batteries that can be made applicable in various sectors such as stationary energy storage, EV, aerospace, defense, and consumer electronics.
This article will describe the qualities of sulfur-based batteries along with their application in EVs.
What is a sulfur-based battery?
Sulfur-based batteries work as an energy storage system where sulfur is served at the cathode, and materials like lithium, sodium, etc., are used as an anode. These sulfur-based battery types are used in various applications such as stationary energy storage, aerospace and defense, EV, and consumer electronics.
Though sodium-sulfur batteries are available commercially, lithium-sulfur batteries are still not commercially abundant on a broad scale market but are expected to be available by 2026.
With the increase in investment toward renewable power generation, battery energy storage systems, and EV charging station infrastructure across the globe, the growth in the global sulfur-based battery market is expected to see a high rise in the coming years.
According to a report by BIS Research, the global sulfur-based battery market was valued at $517.4 million in 2021 and is expected to reach $2.66 billion by 2031 with a CAGR of 17.69%.
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Why are sulfur-based batteries considered to be next-generation batteries?
Since first commercialized in 1991, lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries are currently the most widely used batteries. However, it has some unignored disadvantages as well, such as
- Li-ion cells and batteries are not much robust and require protection from being overcharged or discharged too far.
- Li-ion batteries suffer from aging, dependent upon the number of charge cycles that the battery has undergone.
- Li-ion batteries are not cost-effective.
Thus, the need for a better alternative arises to compete with next-generation (next-gen) requirements.
In the advanced battery technology industry, a recent push has been observed toward the electrification of automotive applications. The deployment of high-range and high-capacity batteries in EVs is being pushed by government bodies and EV companies all over the world. With sulfur-based batteries in usage, EVs can revolutionize their transportation setup and can move to achieve sustainability goals and efficiency by manifolds.
As compared to li-ion batteries, sulfur-based batteries have low density and high capacity per weight, and thus the battery’s energy density can become two-fold, i.e., >500Wh/kg, required for next-gen EVs.
Some of the common advantages of sulfur-based batteries are:
- These batteries can be manufactured in the same plants where Li-ion batteries are made, which makes them relatively straightforward to put into production.
- Sulfur is an inexpensive raw material that is available as a by-product of the oil industry and can offer substantial savings with their costs per unit of power.
- Sulfur-based batteries have a high weight reduction potential due to twice the energy density per weight as compared to lithium-ion batteries.
Moreover, sulfur is the 10th most abundant element on Earth and is available from local sources covering any location in the world. Currently, EVs based on li-ion batteries have enough power to go between 3 and 5 miles per kWh, although power consumption can vary with the speed and battery temperature. Since sulfur-based batteries correspond to sulfur being the cathode, it prevents batteries from getting overheating despite the speed. Thus, sulfur-based batteries are proving to be the power cell for next-gen EVs.
What are the challenges to work upon with sulfur-based batteries?
The major challenge with sulfur-based batteries like lithium-sulfur (Li-s) or sodium-sulfur batteries is that they cannot be recharged enough times before making them commercially viable.
It’s part of internal chemistry; charging a Li-S battery can cause chemical deposit build-ups, which degrade the cell and shorten the lifespan of the battery. Current Li-s batteries work for around 50 recharging cycles, so they need substantial improvement to become commercially viable in EVs.
Conclusion
Rise in demand for EVs along with sustainable development goals in the power, transportation, and energy storage industry, sulfur-based batteries have come in progress showing incredible demand in the automotive industry with high energy density and storage capacity.
Moreover, sulfur-based batteries are expected to be a suitable replacement for lithium-ion batteries for stationary energy storage and various automotive applications.
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