Why your iPhone isn’t powered by a solid-state battery yet – even though it beats lithium-ion

Follow ZDNET: Add us as a favorite source On Google.

ZDNET Highlights

• Solid-state batteries have significant advantages over lithium-ion.
• Topping the list of benefits are increased safety and improved lifespan.
• The technology is not ready for the billions of batteries that the industry will need.

Recently, I reviewed a power bank with a solid-state battery instead of a lithium-ion battery. Solid-state batteries provide increased energy density, improved safety and longer lifespan. To demonstrate the better safety profile, I opened the power bank and inserted a screwdriver into the fully charged battery; Apart from a few puffs of smoke, nothing happened.

So, why don’t our iPhones and other gadgets equipment Powered by solid-state batteries?

Also: I tested solid-state portable batteries for a week – now lithium-ion feels old school

Before we answer that question, let’s take a look at what a solid-state battery is and how it differs from a lithium-ion battery.

solid-state vs lithium-ion

Solid-state batteries are next-generation rechargeable batteries that use a solid material for the electrolyte (the material that carries the electrical charge between the anode and cathode of the battery) instead of the typical liquid or gel electrolytes found in lithium-ion batteries. Electrolytes in lithium-ion batteries are typically lithium salts dissolved in a cocktail of harmful and flammable organic solvents, while in solid-state batteries, various dry ceramics are used. This dry electrolyte is not only non-flammable and quite safe, but also paves the way for batteries with significantly higher energy density.

Additionally, these solid-state batteries charge faster and offer more recharge cycles than equivalent lithium-ion batteries.

In almost every way, solid state outperforms lithium-ion.

So why aren’t all of our portable technology powered by solid-state batteries?

billions of batteries every year

Ultimately, this reduces costs. We have been using lithium-ion batteries for more than 30 years, and we have considered mass production. billions of them every year.

Do you think this is an exaggeration? Apple alone is estimated to have sold about 250 million iPhones last year, all of which need affordable but reliable batteries. Overall, the global smartphone market was in the region of $1.25 billion to $1.6 billion last year, so once you throw in laptops, earbuds, smartwatches, power banks, e-cigarettes (yes, even disposable non-rechargeable units still have rechargeable batteries), not to mention electric cars (there are about 6,000 of them in modern electric vehicles). 18650 Or 21700 cells in each power pack).

The supply chain for solid-state batteries is nowhere near ready for this level of output.

Also: Why phone and laptop batteries explode – and 6 ways to keep yourself safe

Add technical issues to this also.

Solid-state batteries are more complex to manufacture, resulting in lower yields. When you need to make billions of dollars, that’s a problem. Solid-state batteries are more sensitive to vibration and swell a bit in use, and when you consider how we expect modern technology to work and the abuse we expect it to withstand, that’s not great.

And low yields mean that the solid-state batteries that come off the production line are about four to eight times more expensive than traditional lithium-ion batteries of the same capacity.

ETA for mass production?

But these are potential issues which will be overcome in time.

Finally, and this is a big one, the fact is that lithium-ion batteries are so good in every way – from safety to recharge speed to lifespan – that there’s no real rush on the part of manufacturers or consumers to upgrade to the new technology.

Industry people tell me that solid-state batteries are expected to be mass-produced by the early 2030s. Then, and only then, are we likely to see lithium-ion phased out in favor of new technology.