Kaylyn Sethakosee | December 2nd, 2024
Electric vehicle usage is capable of drastically improving road safety and public health. Current studies suggest that self-driving cars can supersede human driving abilities. Furthermore, the gas fumes of conventional vehicles are a hazard to public health in many states, including Tennessee.
But how can electric vehicles become more accessible? The evolution of battery technology will allow for advances in the range and capabilities of these vehicles as well as enable more accessible price points, allowing electric vehicles to become a staple for all households.
How do batteries work?
Similar to us humans, batteries store their energy as chemical potential energy. We get this energy from our food. The brain converts this energy to electrical energy that is then used for signaling between neurons and throughout the body. Batteries, too, provide energy by converting chemical potential energy into electrical energy that is used by the circuits of the device to which they are connected.
The structure and function of a battery
Electric energy is essentially produced by the movement of electrons. Batteries are made up of a cathode, where electron donation occurs, and an anode, where the loss of electrons occurs. The cathode and anode are separated by an electrolyte, which is a substance through which ions can travel to transport charge and conduct electricity. When electrons move through the circuit, ions also travel through the electrolyte. In a rechargeable battery, electrons and ions move through their respective materials, converting the circuit’s electrical energy back into chemical potential energy stored in the battery. Over time, use of the battery can lead to deterioration of battery components and their materials, leading to decreased efficiency and even potential safety hazards.
Batteries in electric vehicles
Currently, the batteries of electric vehicles consist of many lithium-ion batteries tied together. These batteries turn into one large battery, which is often placed at the base of the car frame between the car’s four wheels. Despite the difference in size, the lithium-ion technique used for current electric vehicle batteries is the same one used in other smaller devices such as phones, laptops, and tablets.
The future of batteries
While lithium-ion batteries have been around for a while and have evolved to be cheaper and more efficient, there are concerns about the availability of current battery materials. The increased sales for electric vehicles in recent years has led to more demand for these dwindling minerals and therefore has created a need to find alternative methods and materials to use for future battery designs. Another type of battery, the solid-state battery, is being researched for its potential to be more efficient than lithium-ion batteries by storing more energy in a smaller area.
Furthermore, the U.S. government and private organizations are investing to accelerate the integration of electric vehicles. The federal government wants half of new vehicles sold in the U.S. to have zero emissions by 2030. A budget of $7.5 billion has been set aside for the construction of electric vehicle charging stations by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act). Last year, Vanderbilt received $1 million in research funding from the Audi CO2 Cy Pres Settlement Fund to investigate the health and social influences of electric vehicles.
References
Department of Energy. Doe explains… batteries. U.S. Department of Energy. Retrieved October 7, 2024, from https://www.energy.gov/science/doe-explainsbatteries
International Energy Agency. (2024, October 8). Trends in electric vehicle batteries. IEA Newsroom. https://www.iea.org/reports/global-ev-outlook-2024/trends-in-electric-vehicle-batteries
Pollard, T. (2022, December 6). Electric car batteries: Everything you need to know. CAR Magazine. Retrieved October 7, 2024, from https://www.carmagazine.co.uk/electric/ev-car-battery-capacity-tech/
Vanderbilt University. (2023, April). Vanderbilt receives $1 million in funding for electric vehicle research. https://www.vanderbilt.edu/sustainability/2023/04/vanderbilt-receives-1-million-in-funding-for-electric-vehicle-research/
U.S. Department of Transportation. Electric vehicles: A guide for rural communities. https://www.transportation.gov/rural/ev
Warren, T. (2023, January 4). What’s next for batteries? MIT Technology Review. Retrieved October 7, 2024, from https://www.technologyreview.com/2023/01/04/1066141/whats-next-for-batteries/\
World Economic Forum. (2023, March). Charted: Where does the U.S. lithium battery supply come from? Retrieved October 7, 2024, from https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2023/03/charted-where-does-the-us-lithium-battery-supply-come-from/
