ESG & Industry Updates

Solid State Batteries Could Change the EV Game

Posted by Kelly Burke on Aug 3, 2022 2:01:43 PM

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We're all familiar with both the rise of electric vehicles, and the lingering concerns some have regarding their adoption - namely, driving range, time to recharge, and battery lifetime limits. It's long been assumed that solid state batteries could be the key to solving all of these issues at once, while simultaneously enhancing safety but until recently it looked like it would be quite some time before the technology got to a point where it was scalable and practical. We may have reached that point sooner than expected, however. 

So what even are solid state batteries? . Right now, most EV currently use the familiar lithium ion battery, which uses a liquid or gel electrolyte solution between positive and negative electrodes to both store and release charge. Solid state batteries instead use a solid material for electrons to pass through (ceramic, glass, etc). The lack of liquid/gel allows for holding a  larger amount energy per unit of mass, which means solid state batteries have the potential to increase range. Because of the decreased overall mass (they're roughly half the size of a lithium ion battery) auto manufacturers can allot nearly twice as many batteries to the reserved battery holding areas within the standard EV setup. Additionally, the lack of liquid means more temperature stability for the battery, and removes much of the need for added cooling mechanisms currently in place to avoid the risk of fire & overheating that is present in standard batteries. 

In terms of battery lifetime and the cost to update or replace EV batteries, some manufacturers are estimating that the prototype models they are currently running will be able to stand up to 1000 charges, and with double the battery capacity, the math works out to newer solid state running EVs potentially running a little over half a million miles prior to needing battery replacement. 

The other main highlight is that an additional long standing issue with the move to EV and general electrification has been the impracticality of lithium ion powered heavy freight, long haul trucking, aircraft, or grid level energy storage. By changing the battery variable, that equation may become solvable in time. 

We did an article for Oil & Energy magazine this issue to discuss Solid State Batteries' potential in the EV market, and specifically what Solid Power, one of the industry tech leaders, is doing. You can read that article in its entirety here: Solid State Batteries are Game Changers

For more by way of background on EV batteries and whats going on with that technology - the video below does an excellent job explaining how Lithium, Hydrogen, and Solid State batteries work, and what the benefits and limitations are of each: 

 

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Topics: Climate Change, electric vehicles, battery, ev, solid state battery

China Leads the Charge on EV Market Growth

Posted by Ed Burke on Feb 19, 2019 11:36:00 AM

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Sales of electric vehicles (EV) in the US grew 80% over 2017 sales (2018 saw 361,000 sold), and the global sales number was over 1.7 billion, with China accounting for approximately half of that volume. 

China is seeking to lead the EV transition, with the goal of 19% of all passenger cars sold being electric by 2025. The "New Energy Vehicle" quota law adopted there is the foundation of the rapidly expanding push - this law essentially mimics the "California Zero Emission Vehicle" program. It's a credit based system on the manufacturer side, versus an incentive on the consumer side. So similarly to the California program (or not unlike RINs and other proposed carbon initiatives), manufacturers generate credits via selling EV's, or purchase credits from competitors with excess to meet their required threshold. 

I wrote an article about the current EV landscape both in the US and in China, the major players and factories involved, and what I think we can reasonably assume the near future looks like for EV growth in the passenger car sector. You can read that article here: "Dominating the Electric Vehicle Market" 

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Topics: electric vehicles, china, renewable energy

Tesla Model 3 Deliveries Deliver on Promised Features

Posted by Ed Burke on Sep 15, 2017 2:03:00 PM

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This August, Tesla employees receieved the first deliveries of the much anticipated Tesla Model 3. By all accounts, the Model 3 was met with fully positive feedback upon test driving. If you recall, the Model 3 got half a million pre production money down "reservation" orders in the absence of a test drive or really any standard marketing campaign in place. (For a refresher on the Model 3 debut, read this: Tesla's Model 3 Debut Stuns Industry)

The Model 3 starts at $35,000 but most reviewing is based off the $44,000 level model including the $5000 premium package add on, as this is the model currently available now (the "standard" Model 3 will be available in November) 

The number of EV Charging Stations in the US that are part of Tesla's "supercharger" network will increase by a projected 6500 by the end of 2017. It will be interesting to see how the EV station network expands with the increase in demand for electric vehicles we're seeing with options like the Model 3, new Chevy Volt, and the Nissan Leaf, which are all more readily available to the average consumer than the high end Tesla's and other models. 

I wrote an article for the September issue of Oil & Energy Magazine regarding the Model 3 - you can read it in full here: Tesla's Model 3 - Definitely Innovative

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Topics: EV Charger, electric vehicles, tesla

Tesla's Model 3 Debut Stuns Industry

Posted by Ed Burke on May 12, 2016 2:30:00 PM

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Tesla's Model 3 launch saw unprecedented and unpredicted preorders come in around 400,000 - for a car that isnt even out for about 2 more years! 

The car boasts a $35,000 dollar price tag - compared to the high price of some previous Tesla models, the model 3 is an opportunity for lovers of the Tesla branded vehicles to get into one themselves. The car also boasts a 200+ mile electric only range, and some neat tech features including a heads up display and the standard Tesla car software "upgrades".

I wrote an aticle for Oil & Energy on the Tesla model 3 launch, it's features, as well as possible issues that could be on the horizon for the company in terms of hitting deadlines on the Model 3, especially in the face of demand that tripled even the most optimistic preorder projections. You can read that article here: Oil & Energy Magazine:"Impressive Launch for the Tesla Model 3"

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Topics: electric vehicles, tesla

AltWheels - Past, Present and Future

Posted by Ed Burke on Jan 7, 2015 12:32:35 PM

The most recent AltWheels Fleet Day in Norwood was once again a great success. We've been part of AltWheels from the beginning, back when biodiesel was a niche product and who had ever even heard of ethanol gasoline?

There have been a lot of advances and changes in the landscape of alternative fuels and vehicles. I wrote an article for Oil & Energy Magazine in December chronicling some of the major evolutions we've seen across the field of alternative energy. You can read that article here: "Fleets of the Present and Future: Ed Burke Reports on Alt Wheels Fleet Day"

And below, just for fun here's some awesome shots of the great times we've had at AltWheels past. Enjoy!

AltWheels recognizes green pioneers

E85 pickup truck

Two men standing in front of a flex fuel Chevy AvalancheMan in a suit standing at a podium giving a speech

Chevy VoltHonda Civic - Natural Gas

Police officers riding on horses pose infront of the Dennis K. Burke kiosk

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Topics: natural gas, Biodiesel, Ethanol, environment, altwheels, electric vehicles

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