The Green Battery — Part 1: Application-specific design for perfect sustainability
Powerful battery cells can be the backbone of sustainable mobility — on the road, in the air, and on the water. However, the environmental footprint of these applications is ultimately determined by the design of the cell, among other things.
Battery cells are the power source of the energy transition. A technology already successfully implemented on the roads with e-mobility can also revolutionize air traffic, industry, or the maritime economy on and under the water in the future. The development of the cell is already determining the contribution that battery technology can make to sustainability in a wide variety of application areas and if the battery itself is ecological.
The so-called green battery is, in fact, much more than the material mix but rather the essentially results from the interaction of three factors: the materials used, the efficiency of the associated manufacturing processes, and a cell design that fits the specific requirements profile in each case. A battery cell developer like CustomCells, a German battery cell innovator from Itzehoe, significantly influences all three factors.
What is the carbon footprint of the materials used, for example? Under what conditions are the raw materials mined? How much energy does further processing require? These are very essential questions for developing a green cell. In any case, a European supply chain and recycled materials help significantly increase sustainability.
Application-specific design as an essential factor
The next major adjustment is provided by the process control and its energy supply. For example, materials with high nickel content are very sensitive to moisture. Any contact with water during production must therefore be avoided. Automation can reduce the number of production workers who could introduce moisture into the production process and, in this way, reduce the energy required to operate the drying rooms. Such a production periphery, already considered in the development stage, is a particularly important factor because of the subsequent scaling in the production.
However, the most critical factor for sustainability results from the application-specific design of the cell.
This ensures that the service life is increased, and the performance of the battery is optimally suited to the requirements of the customer, sector, and industry. Concepts such as second-life use concepts follow from this, as they help to extend the service life further. For example, in many safety-relevant areas battery replacement takes place long before the actual demise of the cell. Therefore, recycling of the cell — and even more so the usage of batteries beyond their original purpose — should be essential strategies for developing a green battery.
Master of Batteries is a publication by CustomCells, one of the leading companies in the development and series production of state-of-the-art lithium-ion battery cells.
