Posted on 08/06/2024 12:10:25 PM PDT by Red Badger
The 18650-format potassium-ion battery was launched at the 14th annual Beyond Lithium Conference at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee. - Group1
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The vast majority of our portable electronic gadgets, and the new wave of electric transportation, are powered by lithium batteries. Texas-based startup Group1 has developed a more sustainable alternative, and has now launched the world's first 18650 potassium-ion battery.
Group1 was co-founded in 2021 by battery tech veterans, including Leigang Xue who currently serves as Chief Product Officer but previously worked in the lab of 2019 Nobel Laureate and battery pioneer Dr. John Goodenough at University of Texas at Austin – who co-invented the Li-ion battery.
It was in this lab that Dr. Xue invented the company's Potassium Prussian White (KBW) cathode material – which is reported to be the key development that enables production of the "safer, quickly charging, more efficient and sustainable" potassium-ion battery (KIB).
To make a KIB cell, KBW is paired with a commercial-grade graphite anode, along with readily available electrolyte formulations and separators – with the company also highlighting the distinct lack of critical minerals like lithium, cobalt, nickel and copper in the new batteries.
"As our transition away from fossil fuels accelerates, the demand for lithium-ion batteries is spiking quickly, and our lithium supplies will soon be incapable of meeting that demand," said CEO Alexander Gira as the company came out of stealth in 2022. "Group1 and potassium-ion batteries can provide a viable alternative to bridge this supply gap."
Group1 notes that potassium is more than a thousand times more abundant than lithium, and its KBW cathode is produced using low-temperature sustainable processes.
(Excerpt) Read more at newatlas.com ...
They will not be as good as lithium batteries, because they can’t hold the same amount of energy.
Operating at a nominal voltage of 3.7V, the KIB is on track to achieve a gravimetric energy density of 160-180 Wh/kg, matching the capabilities of LFP-LIB batteries. This breakthrough opens new possibilities for high-performance applications, from portable electronics to electric vehicles.
Lithium-ion are now just over 200 Wh/kg
https://www.techspot.com/news/104110-new-potassium-ion-battery-technology-could-soon-replace.html
I’d be fine with a battery with 75-90% of the capacity, for much lower price.
I’d be more curious about recharge time.
That’s where Potassium might have an edge, price.
It’s also apparently more stable when overcharged, so you don’t have to worry as much about fires.
This is an article that compares Lithium to sodium to potassium.
https://www.takomabattery.com/potassium-ion-battery/
Depending on the volt size of your electric garden tools or mower, there are a half dozen to several dozen of these 18650s used.
“Lithium-ion are now just over 200 Wh/kg”
Tesla is pushing 300 in production cells.
I have no idea what these smaller cells are.
“I’d be more curious about recharge time.”
Technical articles say faster.
“Depending on the volt size ... “
and Amp hour capacity.
“As our transition away from fossil fuels accelerates”
Hmm. I read that world consumption of fossil fuels continues to increase.
Cheaper is nice, but overall the batteries are only ~20% of the car’s price. What is killing the EV is a combination of two issues.
1) Time to recharge. You can fill your car with gas and be on the road in 5-10 minutes, and are good for 300 miles.
2) Weight - your tires only last about half as long, due to the weight of the batteries. Cheaper and lower energy density batteries mean more weight, for the same charge.
To win in this battle, you need Better, Faster and Cheaper. Until you hit all three, you will not win.
The smaller batteries, I think, are standard lithium batteries. If you were to open up a lithum powerpack, you’d see these batteries that are shaped like AA batteries, but they are bigger. That’s the standard battery that is used in electronic devices. They are called 18650’s.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/18650_battery
“Operating at a nominal voltage of 3.7V, the KIB is on track to achieve a gravimetric energy density of 160-180 Wh/kg,”
Non-production cells have been developed with a capacity of 235 Wh/kg.
Yes. I don’t think that Potassium will replace lithium ion in terms of it’s energy density. It might make sense in some things, like rechargeable batteries or ebike batteries, where you will plug it in anyway.
For example, when I ride my bike to work, I usually plug it in at work. I could charge my bike every two days, but I don’t do that. I think most people with e-bikes charge their bikes after every use, so maybe I don’t need a bike that can go 100km between charges.
300, at least to me because Tesla is limited to the same limitations of lithium that everybody else is, is probably using custom made bigger batteries.
“1) Time to recharge. You can fill your car with gas and be on the road in 5-10 minutes, and are good for 300 miles.”
With an EV you can fill up at home.
“2) Weight - your tires only last about half as long, due to the weight of the batteries. Cheaper and lower energy density batteries mean more weight, for the same charge.”
Stay easy on the go_pedal and it is ten to twenty percent
Finally! Lithium is just too reactive to water to be safe.
(...snicker...)
And potassium ain’t?..................🙄
;o)
Do you have to burn the same amount of Oil/Coal to make these potassium-ion batteries as you do to make lithium batteries ? Carbon Neutral is amazing ,\o/
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