LG predicts solid-state batteries will first spread in smartphones

• LG predicts the appearance of solid-state batteries in smartphones ten years earlier than in electric vehicles.
• The main challenge is scaling up the production of large batteries of this type
• Starting in 2028, GM will use lithium batteries with manganese with a range exceeding 640 km
• Chinese CATL has outpaced Western manufacturers in the development of sodium-ion batteries

The development of solid-state batteries is actively underway in both Western countries and China, but their actual market implementation remains a subject of discussion and forecasts. Representatives of the South Korean company LG Energy Solution shared their vision of how this technology will develop in the coming years and which market segments these batteries will first penetrate.

The president of the American division of LG Energy Solution pointed out the main technical challenge in an interview with a specialized publication: scaling up the production of solid-state batteries. Batteries of this type demonstrate high energy density, which facilitates the creation of compact devices. However, the production of large batteries encounters significant manufacturing difficulties, as it requires fundamentally different approaches to organizing the process.

According to LG, solid-state batteries will appear in smartphones about ten years earlier than in electric vehicles or stationary energy storage systems. The reason for this sequence is obvious: portable gadgets require compact batteries with high energy density, which aligns with the current capabilities of the technology.

Prospects in the automotive market

At the same time, solid-state batteries may be adopted more quickly in specialized electric vehicles aimed at maximum range or high-speed driving. Chinese manufacturers are already preparing prototypes of cars with such batteries for 2025, but their widespread adoption is not expected until the end of the decade.

Until then, automakers will continue to improve existing types of traction batteries. In particular, LG Energy Solution, in collaboration with General Motors, is developing lithium batteries with increased manganese content (LMR). These batteries contain less expensive nickel and cobalt while increasing the proportion of manganese. SUVs and pickups from General Motors will receive these batteries starting in 2028, providing a range of over 640 kilometers at a cost comparable to current lithium iron phosphate solutions.

Alternative development directions

The company is also investing in the development of lithium-ion batteries with an increased cell diameter of 46 millimeters. This design is better suited for integration in next-generation electric vehicles, allows for charging in ten minutes, and enhances operational safety. Sodium-ion batteries, which LG is also developing, are considered the most promising for stationary energy storage systems. However, in this area, the Chinese company CATL has already outpaced Western competitors.

Thus, the transition of the energy sector and transportation to new types of batteries will be gradual. Solid-state batteries will gradually find their niche, starting with the most promising applications where their advantages are most evident, and the manufacturing challenges are manageable.

Source: 3DNews