Keeping up to date in the world of automotive technology is becoming a challenge. The race to lead sustainable mobility (in which electric cars seem to be leading), is not ending. In this case, the European company BMW is taking the spotlight with the development of its solid-state battery for electric cars. Together with Solid Power they have launched the tests that will prove if your bet is completely viable to launch it on the market.
Sustainable mobility
The automobile sector is leaving behind the use of fossil fuels as a source of fuel for its cars. For some years now, sustainable mobility has been gaining ground in the market, with sustainable energy sources as a source of energy. Lithium electric batteries, hydrogen, solar cars and now solid state batteries.
BMW solid state batteries
BMW is a famous German brand, manufacturer of high-end cars and motorcycles, based in Munich. Founded in 1913 and with an eye on the market for plane engines, the company evolved by betting on luxury and high-end design, combined with excellent quality in engine production. Although it has been a brand that has always bet on fossil fuels, it has bet to get on board and join the fight for leading the market of clean energies and zero emissions.In his case, he has opted for electric cars (discarding solar), and has bet on solid state batteries.
Unlike lithium batteries used by Tesla, this design features solid cells composed of sulphide-based electrolytes, modeled as prisms that are stored in each of its main modules. This advance would not have been possible without the partnership that has been established with Solid Power, who have worked on this idea since 2016.
Testing the battery
After publishing this information in a statement, BMW has stated that together with Solid Power, they have already started to do the relevant tests to make this idea a reality. Their main concern is to measure the capabilities that the battery offers in an environment as close to reality as possible. They take into account aspects such as temperature, atmospheric pressure conditions, temperature and expansion of the cells that make up the design. All of them have to pass the tests with an approval in order to continue with the development and commercialization of these batteries.
Competence
Although the large companies that are currently better positioned in the sustainable car market such as Tesla, Cupra or BYD, are using lithium batteries and not solid-state batteries, it is clear that they make up the bulk of their competition. However, if there are other brands that have developed their own batteries and soon could market them, such as Stellantis. Resulting from the merger of the Italian-American groups Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and the French Groupe PSA, Stellantis was founded in 2021 and has already become a threat to be taken into account by BMW.
On the other hand we have the Chinese, who although already has representation in the sustainable market with BYD, continues to explore other alternatives for their designs. In this case, they have also set their sights on solid state batteries, although they have been pursuing the creation of solid electrolytes for several years without much success. This may be an advantage for BMW and Solid Power, but they cannot relax.
There will be more and more options for consumers to choose from when they want to buy a car. We will have to find that brand that manages to bring together design, quality of materials and production, affordable prices, durability, maintenance and of course, with the use of clean and renewable energies that allow cars to have sufficient autonomy and whose emissions and impact on the environment is zero.
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