1. The working principle of aluminum-ion batteries
Aluminum-ion batteries work similarly to lithium batteries, in that they convert chemical energy into electrical energy through ionic reactions. The electrolyte of aluminum-ion batteries uses alumina, which converts the ionic reaction between aluminium and alumina into electricity. Comparatively, aluminum-ion batteries can release 3 ions, while lithium batteries can only release 1 ion, so aluminum-ion batteries have a higher energy density, are able to store more power, and therefore have a longer driving range.
2. Rock salt structure and safety of aluminum-ion batteries
The aluminium-ion battery developed by the Indian company uses a rock salt structure and uses a solid electrolyte to mix niobium and aluminum. Compared with lithium batteries, aluminum-ion batteries do not produce dendrites, which are the phenomenon of dendritic structure of lithium metal in lithium batteries, which is easy to cause spontaneous combustion accidents. Therefore, aluminum-ion batteries have higher safety performance and can effectively avoid the risk of spontaneous combustion of electric vehicles.
3. Cycle life and durability of aluminum-ion batteries
The Indian company says its aluminum-ion battery can support 20,000 cycles of charging and discharging, and will have a lifespan of more than 15 years. This means that aluminum-ion batteries have a longer service life, which can not only meet the daily use needs of electric vehicles, but also reduce the frequency of battery replacement and reduce the consumption of resources.
1. Problems in charging technology
To fully charge a 150 kWh battery in 12 minutes, the charging station must reach 750 kW. However, the fastest Tesla Supercharger on the market currently has a maximum power of only 150 kilowatts. Therefore, how to break through this technical problem, realize the development of ultra-high power charging piles, and solve the heating and safety problems that may be caused by them are all challenges that need to be overcome.
2. Corrosiveness of aluminum batteries
Aluminum is easy to regenerate and inexpensive, but in aluminum-ion batteries, it can cause severe corrosion and lead to irreversible aluminum consumption, which reduces the utilization of aluminum electrodes. Therefore, how to solve the corrosive problem of aluminum-ion batteries and improve the efficiency and cycle life of the battery is also a difficult problem to be overcome.
3. The company's patent issues and reliability considerations
According to reports, the Indian company has not applied for patents related to aluminum-ion batteries, but has only claimed the advantages of its technology through verbal publicity. In the absence of relevant patent support, there are doubts about the reliability of this battery. Patents are the protection of innovation, and without it as a support, it is difficult to ensure the technical stability and authenticity of products.
1. The existing technology maturity and market share
At present, lithium batteries are one of the most widely used batteries, which have been developed and verified by the market for many years, and have a relatively high degree of technical maturity. Major electric vehicle companies have also accumulated rich experience and technical accumulation in the production and application of lithium batteries. Lithium batteries have a high market share and have established a relatively mature industrial chain, so new energy vehicle companies choose lithium batteries as the main power batteries for the reliability of mature products and market demand considerations.
2. Technical problems need to be broken through
Despite the many advantages of aluminum-ion batteries, they still face technical difficulties such as high-power charging, corrosive problems, etc. In order to realize the large-scale application of aluminum-ion batteries in the field of electric vehicles, further research and development and breakthroughs are needed. As the most widely used and relatively mature battery, lithium battery has provided a reliable solution for vehicle electrification, although there are some problems.
As an emerging energy technology, aluminum-ion batteries do offer many advantages, such as fast charging, high energy density, and safety. However, the technical challenges and limitations faced by aluminum-ion batteries cannot be ignored, and further research and breakthroughs are still needed. In contrast, lithium battery, as the current mainstream power battery technology, has mature market application and technology accumulation, and has become the first choice of major electric vehicle companies. Although aluminum-ion batteries may be expected to replace lithium batteries in the future, at this stage, we also need to continue to pay attention to the technological development and market application of aluminum-ion batteries, as well as more continuous and in-depth research and innovation on lithium batteries, so that electric vehicle technology continues to progress and provide more choices and convenience for people's travel.