Fully solid-state batteries are just around the corner - some Chinese models already have a semi-solid-state battery, MG are releasing one this year, companies like Toyota and Honda are working on it too. The current use case is to extend range (600+ miles / 1000+ kms) but they could also be used to get similar range as today’s cars with a much lighter battery.
Coincidentlaly, throwing all this junk out makes EV’s significantly lighter.
They kinda suffer from “the tyranny of the rocket equation” since so much of their mass is “fuel.” Make it lighter, and they need less battery, which means you need even less battery to carry that battery around, less chassis and suspension weight for that, which removes more battery, and so on.
dan@upvote.au 3 months ago
thanksforallthefish@literature.cafe 3 months ago
Solid state is just around the corner in the same way fusion is. Toyota announced in 2010 they’d have it in prod by 2015, then 2018, then 2020, then 2025 then…"real soon now™ "
The MG “may be a semi solid state”
electrek.co/…/new-semi-solid-state-battery-ev-lau…
Which is not quite the same thing.
BYD and CATL who have a good track record of delivery are suggesting 2030
TL;DR
Don’t wait for solid state, the current battery tech is more than adequate for the majority of people. Holding off for something “perfect” that may never arrive when “good enough” is here diesn’t seem logical to me
dan@upvote.au 3 months ago
There’s already cars available today with semi solid state batteries: One by Nio and one by IM.
The article I read about the MG was certain that it’d be solid state. Sorry for the incorrect info.
Duamerthrax@lemmy.world 3 months ago
The Aptera coming out follows this principle. It’s the only EV that’s light enough that the onboard solar panels contribute a significant boost in range.
dbkblk@lemmy.world 3 months ago
Do you know where it’s at? It was supposed to come to US by 2022, and I’m wondering about Europe…
Duamerthrax@lemmy.world 3 months ago
It’s was getting shown off at CES. Plenty of videos on youtube.
Europe would be a different beast regardless. It’s expensive to pay for safety testing in one place and those aren’t transferable. If you want one in Europe, you might be able to as a private importer maybe? There was one guy who tried that with a Cybertruck and got in trouble. I’m not a lawyer.
dbkblk@lemmy.world 3 months ago
That’s what I was wondering, thank you! I’m not confident that it will come to Europe and I unfortunately cannot afford to buy a car that won’t be commonly supported by garages!