These are the zinc ion batteries that we will not see in the automotive industry

The Swedish company Enerpoly has opened the doors of its zinc-ion battery megafactory north of Stockholm. It is the first facility to build this battery technology on a large scale in the world.

The 6,500 square meter factory is designed to reach a production capacity of 100 MWh per year. That will happen in a couple of years because although the company has already started commissioning, it is expected to reach its full production capacity in early 2026. According to Enerpoly, this megafactory will satisfy Europe’s needs for secure energy storage and also will use a fully European supply chain.

What are the differences with lithium ion batteries?

Zinc-ion batteries are not as good as automotive lithium-ion batteries, but they are an best storage option in several senses:

  • They use a water based electrolyte. That is why they are not flammable and reduces the risk of fires and explosions.
  • Are cheapersince zinc is more abundant than lithium (which is also expensive to extract), and easier to manipulate. They can also operate over a wider temperature range and require less maintenance, making them more economical.
  • Are more ecological for the same reason. Instead, lithium extraction currently requires extensive mining, as well as the use of huge evaporation ponds before processing begins.
  • It is said that they last much longer. According to the International Zinc Association (a nonprofit trade association of which Enerpoly is a member), zinc-based batteries can last up to 20 years, while lithium batteries last about 12 years.

This all sounds great… but as we said, we don’t think we’ll see them in the automotive world due to their low energy density. They announce an energy density of modest 106.4 Wh/kg. For reference, Tesla’s 4680 type battery cell is between 244 and 296 Wh/kg.

Of course, we can expect more economical, greener and easier to use energy storage systems with this technology in the not too distant future. The company claims that its batteries are suitable for working between 2 and 10 hours, discharging energy for moderate periods. This makes them useful for moving energy loads from peak hours to off-peak hours and building more resilient electrical networks.

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