5 electric vehicle battery technologies to look forward to in the next decade
The focus remains on lithium-ion: LFP lowers cost; high nickel increases density; dry electrodes and Cell-to-Pack reduce cost; silicon anodes promise 6–10 minute charging. Sodium-ion, solid state still has production issues.
Claims of “battery breakthroughs” abound, but few technologies have made it out of the lab and into electric vehicles. Experts like Pranav Jaswani of IDTechEx and Evelina Stoikou of BloombergNEF told Wired that small, well-placed improvements can make a big difference, but that often take years to materialize due to safety requirements, manufacturing validation, and financial feasibility.
Lithium-ion remains the backbone of the EV era
The big breakthroughs so far revolve around lithium-ion batteries. “Lithium-ion is very mature,” says Evelina Stoikou; the scale of investment and the existing supply chain make it difficult for other chemistries to catch up in the next decade. Even so, a single change in composition or process could add about 50 miles of range or cut manufacturing costs enough to bring down the price of a car, says Pranav Jaswani.
5 steps that can make a real difference
LFP: Cut costs, maintain stability
Why noteworthy:Lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries use iron and phosphate instead of expensive and difficult-to-mine nickel and cobalt. LFP is more stable, degrading more slowly over many cycles.
Potential results:Reducing the cost of batteries and the price of cars – especially important when electric cars are competing with gasoline cars. LFP is already popular in China and is expected to spread to Europe and the US in the next few years.
Challenge:Lower energy density, less range per battery pack than other options.
High Nickel in NMC: More range, less cobalt
Why noteworthy:Increasing the nickel content in lithium nickel manganese cobalt increases energy density, extending range without increasing size/weight. At the same time, it can reduce cobalt – an expensive and ethically controversial metal.
Challenge:Reduced stability, higher risk of cracking or explosion, requiring more stringent design and thermal control, resulting in increased costs. More suitable for high-end electric vehicles.
Dry electrode process: Minimize solvents, increase production efficiency
Why noteworthy:Instead of mixing materials with solvents and then drying, dry electrode technology mixes dry powders before coating and rolling. Less solvents reduce environmental, health and safety risks; eliminating the drying step can reduce time, increase efficiency and reduce manufacturing space – thereby reducing costs.
Deployment status:Tesla has applied at anode; LG and Samsung SGI are testing the line.
Challenge:Dry powder processing is technically complex and requires fine tuning to stabilize mass production.
Cell-to-Pack: Take advantage of volume, add about 80 km
Why noteworthy:By skipping the module, placing the cell directly into the battery pack allows for more cells to be packed into the same space. According to Pranav Jaswani, this technology can add about 80 km of range and improve top speed, while cutting manufacturing costs. Tesla, BYD, and CATL are already using it.
Challenge:Controlling thermal instability and structural strength is more difficult without modules; replacing faulty cells becomes complicated, even requiring opening or replacing the entire cluster.
Silicon anode: Dense energy, fast charge 6–10 minutes
Why noteworthy:Adding silicon to the graphite anode increases storage capacity (longer range) and charges faster, potentially taking just 6–10 minutes to fully charge. Tesla has already mixed some silicon; Mercedes-Benz and General Motors say they are getting closer to mass production.
Challenge:Silicon expands/contracts cyclically, causing mechanical stress and cracking, which degrades its capacity over time. This is now commonly seen in small batteries like those in phones or motorbikes.
| Technology | Key benefits | Challenge | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| LFP | Low cost, stable, slow degradation | Low energy density | Popular in China; expected to increase in EU/US |
| High Nickel (NMC) | Increase density, reduce cobalt | Less stable, high cost of thermal control | Suitable for high-end cars |
| Dry electrode | Reduce solvents, increase efficiency, lower costs | Technical challenges in handling dry powders | Tesla (anode); LG, Samsung SGI tested |
| Cell-to-Pack | Add ~80 km range, reduce cost | Heat control, difficult to repair | Tesla, BYD, CATL applications |
| Silicon anode | Longer range, quick charge 6–10 minutes | Expansion causes cracking and loss of capacity. | Approaching mass production |
Promising technologies but still far from market
Sodium ion: Easy to find, cheap, heat stable
Why noteworthy:Sodium is cheap, abundant, and easier to process than lithium, cutting supply chain costs. Sodium-ion batteries appear to be more stable and perform well in extreme temperatures. CATL says it will begin mass production next year, and the batteries could account for as much as 40% of China’s passenger car market.
Challenge:Sodium ions are heavier, have lower energy density, and are better suited for stationary storage. The technology is in its early stages, with few suppliers and few proven processes.
Solid-state batteries: High density, safer but difficult to manufacture
Why noteworthy:Replacing liquid/gel electrolytes with solid ones promises higher density, faster charging, longer life, and less risk of leakage. Toyota says it will launch a car with solid-state batteries in 2027 or 2028. BloombergNEF predicts that by 2035, solid-state batteries will account for 10% of electric vehicle production and storage.
Challenge:Some solid electrolytes are poor at low temperatures; production requires new equipment, defect-free electrolyte layers are difficult to create; the industry has not yet unified the selection of electrolytes, causing difficulties in the supply chain.
A remarkable idea but difficult to popularize
Wireless charging: Maximum convenience, cost barrier
Why noteworthy:Parking and charging without plugging in is something some manufacturers say will soon be available; Porsche is showing off a prototype with plans to roll out a commercial version next year.
Challenge:Wired charging is now efficient and much cheaper to install, according to Pranav Jaswani. Wireless charging may appear in some niche cases, like buses charging along their routes while parked on docks, but it’s unlikely to become a mainstream option.
Conclusion: Expectations are well-founded, but evolution takes time
The most promising battery technologies today are mostly optimizations within the lithium-ion system: LFP to reduce cost, high nickel to increase density, dry electrodes and Cell-to-Pack to reduce manufacturing costs, silicon anodes to increase charging speed. Meanwhile, sodium-ion and solid-state have long-term potential but many production hurdles. As experts emphasize, even small changes can take up to 10 years to appear in electric vehicles – and only improvements that pass safety standards and economic considerations will have a chance to reach the market.