Accelerating the transition to low or net-zero carbon emissions is necessary to keep global warming at a theoretically safe level. In line with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, countries have set targets for net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by mid-century, with intermediate targets and milestones in the 2030s. Corporate sustainability initiatives and government regulations promoting net-zero carbon emissions are increasing, and many of America’s largest companies have established their own, more aggressive net-zero goals.
One of the fastest and perhaps most economical ways to ensure decarbonisation is by using clean energy sources such as electricity at the point of consumption and moving towards renewable energy sources at the point of production.
Battery chemistry and technology, including industrial electrification, will be discussed at POWER’s Distributed Energy Conference, 3-6 October at the Gaylord Rockies resort near Denver, Colorado. There is still time to register for the event!
In propulsion applications, the penetration of lithium-ion battery systems is relatively low, but it is growing rapidly. Motor power segments include industrial material handling (MH) equipment, such as forklifts (Figure 1) and load handling equipment, and industrial lifting equipment, such as scissor lifts and electric bucket trucks. This equipment is used in power plants and associated grid infrastructure (ie maintenance of power lines).
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Material Handling Equipment and CARB Regulations
LEK, a leading market research firm, estimated the North American lithium-ion battery systems market value in the propulsion segment alone to be around $2 billion in 2021, and lithium-ion batteries make up less than 10% of the electric MH equipment market, compared to more than 90 % powered by lead acid battery systems. However, there is a segment-wide migration towards lithium-ion battery systems away from lead-acid and internal combustion engine (ICE) power. LEK predicts that penetration of lithium-ion battery systems is expected to continue to rise rapidly given performance advantages and falling prices. By 2026, lithium-ion battery systems are expected to reach one-third of the installed base, grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of around 30%, and account for close to half of new MH equipment sales.
Lithium-ion Power Solutions has led and accelerated industrial electrification by providing advanced lithium-ion batteries and chargers for all MH electrical equipment classes 1 to 3. Integrated aftermarket lithium-ion batteries and chargers provided through a single supplier, has further eased the transition from lead-acid to lithium-ion systems, ensuring a seamless path to more efficient and environmentally friendly operations. Adoption and implementation is simplified as aftermarket lithium-ion batteries are compatible with all MH electrical equipment and lithium-ion chargers can charge both lithium-ion and lead-acid batteries. In addition to a healthy ecosystem of aftermarket lithium-ion batteries and chargers, MH OEMs such as Hyster-Yale Group and BYD offer new forklifts optimized to operate with a single integrated lithium-ion battery. Lithium-ion systems offer several commercial and technical advantages over lead-acid systems (which we will explore later), enabling a faster transition to industrial electrification for power generation and distribution companies.
From 2026 onwards, the California Air Resources Board (CARB) ban on the sale of all new ICE forklifts with a lifting capacity of 12,000 pounds (or less) is expected to go into effect. Currently, the legislation is at the proposal stage and has not yet entered into force. Phasing out ICE forklifts from the installed base is also part of this proposal and still under development. This legislation will affect the direction of the MH equipment industry, not only in California, but nationwide. As the lifespan of MH equipment ranges from 5 to 10 years, MH equipment buyers are shifting their purchases to electric forklifts with lithium-ion battery systems, ensuring greater momentum and earlier compliance with this industrial electrification trend.
Electric Lift or Bucket Trucks and ACT Regulations
Electric utilities generally own a fleet of trucks that mainly include bucket trucks (Figure 2) or trouble trucks—so named because they are used by troublemakers, experts sent out to investigate the causes of power outages. Electric bucket trucks are used to put an operator or linemen up on a pole to repair or maintain utility lines. Electric Utilities, as part of its clean energy initiatives, is transitioning to hybrid powered bucket trucks, where the boom and bucket are powered by electric battery and the truck is powered by ICE.
Lithium-ion battery systems are a preferred choice over lead-acid batteries to power the bucket. This advanced lithium-ion auxiliary power system allows linemen to operate the bucket without running the engine all day and provides enough charge for nearly a full day’s work, including power for the hydraulic lift system, power tools and portable labor. The batteries also make it possible to operate the trucks’ air conditioning, lights and two-way radios while the engine is off. Without batteries, the lift’s hydraulic system would be powered by the truck’s engine, requiring the vehicle to idle during operation. On the way to and from workplaces, the battery system is recharged from the engine’s generator. It also charges in the garage without the need for specialized charging equipment.
These hybrid bucket trucks are more energy efficient as they cut hours of idling, reducing carbon dioxide emissions, noise and engine wear. This system allows troublemakers to completely shut down the truck’s engine while working on a line, making the trucks safer, quieter, more fuel efficient and better for the environment. Eliminating engine noise also makes working conditions safer, improves employee communication and enables quieter operation in the workplace. A standard bucket truck engine uses about a gallon of fuel every hour the bucket is in use. The new hybrid trucks are estimated to save around 30% on fuel. By reducing idle time by just 15 minutes per day per vehicle, for a fleet of nearly 6,000 vehicles, saves about $1.2 million annually in fuel costs. It also reduces emissions by an estimated 1.3 tonnes of particulate matter, 21 tonnes of nitrogen oxides, 26 tonnes of carbon monoxide and 3,800 tonnes of carbon dioxide each year.
California regulators are awaiting approval from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for Advanced Clean Trucks (ACT) legislation that would require vehicle manufacturers to sell a certain percentage of zero-emission trucks starting in 2024. This legislation would help California meet its climate goals and clean the air in the state’s most deprived and polluted communities. Electric bucket trucks are expected to be covered by the adoption of the ACT rule. This has led to the recent emergence of the country’s first all-electric bucket truck with two separate electrical systems providing power to the driveline and lift.
From a technological perspective, lithium-ion technology is increasingly seen as a compelling alternative to lead-acid battery systems, as it offers higher energy density, longer life, lower operating costs and maintenance requirements:
Lithium-ion batteries offer big savings compared to lead acid when you consider the total cost of ownership (TCO). Although the upfront cost of a lithium-ion battery is higher, the return on investment (ROI) is attractive by achieving greater operational efficiency and lower TCO, with the following op-ex improvements:
Consistent with the op-ex improvements, using lithium-ion batteries also achieves the following capex improvements when using MH equipment:
In addition to being clean and cost-effective, industrial electrification with advanced lithium-ion batteries and chargers enables Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity and telemetry. Smart, connected platforms pave the way for intelligent systems that can accelerate automation, reduce human intervention, and empower data-driven decision-making and analytics.
IoT connectivity improves fleet management by remotely monitoring the assets and providing real-time visibility using data acquired from those assets via an IoT gateway. IoT connectivity helps fleet managers improve asset utilization and operational efficiency and extend asset life, thereby reducing both operating costs and capital expenditures in their operations.
—Jeffrey VanZwol is the chief marketing officer of Green Cubes Technology, a Kokomo, Indiana-based designer and manufacturer of lithium power systems with offices around the globe. More info at www.greencubes.com.
How efficient is battery storage?
Battery storage technology is typically around 80% to more than 90% efficient for newer lithium-ion devices. Battery systems connected to large solid-state inverters have been used to stabilize power distribution networks.
What is the most efficient way to store energy? Power-to-gas technology is the most efficient for long-term energy storage.
How efficient is energy storage?
PSH energy efficiency varies in practice between 70% and 80%, with claims of up to 87%. During times of low electrical demand, excess generating capacity is used to pump water from a lower source into a higher reservoir.
Which energy storage has highest efficiency?
Energy storage in lithium-ion batteries is considered one of the most efficient.
Is energy storage environmentally friendly?
Energy storage (batteries and other means of storing electricity, such as pumped water, compressed air or molten salt) has generally been hailed as a “green” technology, key to enabling more renewable energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
How efficient is it to store energy?
Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) CAES can achieve up to 70 percent energy efficiency when the heat from the air pressure is retained, otherwise the efficiency is between 42 and 55 percent.
Is battery storage considered renewable energy?
Batteries are the primary method of storing renewable energy, and battery technology has lagged behind advances in wind and solar generation.
What type of energy storage does a battery have?
Batteries use chemistry, in the form of chemical potential, to store energy, like many other everyday energy sources. For example, tree trunks store energy in their chemical bonds until burning converts the energy into heat.
Are lithium batteries considered renewable?
Lithium: The non-renewable mineral that makes renewable energy possible.
What counts as renewable energy?
Renewable energy is energy that comes from a source that does not run out. They are natural and self-renewing and usually have a low or zero carbon footprint. Examples of renewable energy sources include wind power, solar power, bioenergy (organic matter burned as fuel) and hydropower, including tidal power.
Is battery storage environmentally friendly?
Energy storage (batteries and other means of storing electricity, such as pumped water, compressed air or molten salt) has generally been hailed as a “green” technology, key to enabling more renewable energy and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Can batteries be environmentally friendly?
Cheaper and more sustainable “Sodium-ion batteries can become a more environmentally friendly alternative to lithium-ion batteries. They can also become cheaper and more sustainable,” says Brennhagen. In the earth’s crust, there is more than 1000 times more sodium than lithium, and sodium can be found everywhere.
Do lithium batteries hurt the environment?
Lithium-ion batteries contain metals such as cobalt, nickel and manganese, which are toxic and can contaminate water supplies and ecosystems if they leach from landfills. In addition, fires at landfills or battery recycling facilities have been attributed to improper disposal of lithium-ion batteries.
Is battery harmful to the environment?
When batteries corrode, their chemicals seep into the ground and contaminate groundwater and surface water. Our ecosystems, which contain thousands of aquatic plants and animals, are compromised when they are filled with battery chemicals.
Is there enough lithium on earth for electric cars?
“Yes, we will [eventually] get enough, but not by then,” Keith Phillips, CEO of Piedmont Lithium ( PLL ), said in an interview with Yahoo Finance Live (video above). “There is going to be a real crunch to get the material. We don’t have enough in the world to turn over that much [lithium] production in the world by 2035.”
How many years of lithium do we have left? Because lithium is not an infinite resource. In fact, according to Kipping, when electric cars dominate the car market, there are about 70 years of lithium until the identified global reserves themselves are exhausted. Then we would have to turn to extracting lithium from the ocean, which is a much more expensive proposition.
Can EV batteries be made without lithium?
Researchers from Tokyo University of Science have cracked the code to use abundant magnesium instead of expensive lithium in the next generation of solid-state electric vehicle batteries.
Is there enough raw material for electric car batteries?
T&E’s study shows that there would be enough lithium and nickel(1) metals to make up to 14 million battery electric vehicles (BEVs) globally by 2023 – 55% higher than current market forecasts.
Do all EV batteries use lithium?
Most plug-in hybrids and all-electric vehicles use lithium-ion batteries like these. Energy storage systems, usually batteries, are essential for fully electric vehicles, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs).
Is there an alternative to lithium for EV batteries?
Researchers have identified an alternative to lithium-based battery technology by developing glassy sodium electrodes capable of supporting long-term grid-scale energy storage.
How much lithium is needed for an electric car?
The average electric vehicle (EV) needs nearly 63 kilograms of lithium carbonate for its battery components.
How much lithium does it take to make a Tesla battery?
Lithium, for example, is not in short supply, but the average electric car battery requires about 10 kg of the metal. On the other hand, 5.3 tons of lithium carbonate ore gives one ton of lithium. Cobalt and nickel ores similarly need to be clawed out of the ground and then heavily processed to achieve the required purity levels.
How much battery is needed for electric car?
The average capacity is around 40 kWh, but some cars now have a capacity of up to 100 kWh. The battery capacity of your car will have a direct impact on its range. This is the number of miles you can drive on a full charge, so the higher the kWh, the better.
Is there enough lithium to support electric cars?
“Yes, we will [eventually] have enough, but not at that time. There is a real struggle to get the material. We don’t have enough in the world to turn over that much [lithium] production in the world by 2035.”
How abundant is lithium on earth?
Introduction. Lithium is present in the Earth’s crust at 0.002â0.006% by weight. It is the 33rd most abundant element in nature and is widely distributed in trace amounts in rocks, soil and surface, ground and sea water.
How much lithium exists in the world?
Total global reserves are estimated at 14 million tonnes. This corresponds to 165 times the production volume in 2018. Where is the most lithium mined? With 51,000 tonnes, Australia was by far the most important supplier of lithium in 2018 – ahead of Chile (16,000 tonnes), China (8,000 tonnes) and Argentina (6,200 tonnes).
Is lithium rare or abundant on earth?
With 20 mg of lithium per kg of the earth’s crust, lithium is the 25th most abundant element. According to the Handbook of Lithium and Natural Calcium, “Lithium is a relatively rare element, although it is found in many rocks and some brines, but always in very low concentrations.
Will we ever run out of lithium?
Running out of lithium Global lithium reserves are estimated at over 14 million tons, and (depending on who you ask) the amount of lithium needed to meet current targets is somewhere between 0.5 and 1.3 million tons. In 2021, lithium extraction peaked at an industry record of 100,000 tonnes.
How can batteries change the future of the mankind?
People power Batteries will increasingly play a role in our bodies in the future, such as powering sensors in prostheses and pacemakers. In order for these batteries to work, they must consist of safe electrolyte material instead of petroleum and be non-flammable.
How did batteries change the world? Successive improvements in battery technology facilitated major electrical advances, from early scientific research to the advent of telegraphs and telephones, eventually leading to laptop computers, cell phones, electric cars, and many other electrical devices.
Why are batteries important for the future?
Although batteries play a vital role in powering almost all the devices we depend on throughout our lives. As the world begins a shift towards a more sustainable future powered by electricity and technology plays an ever-increasing role in society, batteries are becoming more important than ever.
Why batteries are important in our life?
Batteries are important for their great ability to power a variety of devices, as they can be used in everything from cars to music players. The utility of batteries has made them indispensable to modern life. 1. Batteries are necessary to power the vast amounts of electronics used in the modern world.
What is the future of batteries?
Researchers estimate that between 2021 and 2030, the worldwide lithium battery market is expected to grow by a factor of 5 to 10. Rising demand for consumer electronics as well as the rise in electric vehicles are expected to drive growth. Battery costs have started to rise again after a decade of decline.
What is the battery that could change the world?
Given the technical data it reported, we are confident that QuantumScape will launch usable forever battery samples in 2022-23. And by 2030, this company will produce millions of batteries every year to power almost everything. It has been confirmed. The Forever Battery Revolution has arrived.
How can battery help us?
Batteries and similar devices accept, store and release electricity as needed. Batteries use chemistry, in the form of chemical potential, to store energy, like many other everyday energy sources.
How do batteries help us?
Batteries and similar devices accept, store and release electricity as needed. Batteries use chemistry, in the form of chemical potential, to store energy, like many other everyday energy sources. For example, tree trunks store energy in their chemical bonds until burning converts the energy into heat.
What are the benefits of battery power?
Advantages of battery storage for renewable energy consumption
- Allows for better utilization of renewable energy. The use of batteries to store this power is a necessity, ensuring that the power can be used when you need it. …
- Added protection. …
- Less dependent on the network. …
- Reduce your carbon footprint. …
- Minimize electricity bills.
How Can batteries be used in the future?
People power. Batteries will increasingly play a role in our bodies in the future, such as powering sensors in prosthetic limbs and pacemakers. In order for these batteries to work, they must consist of safe electrolyte material instead of petroleum and be non-flammable.
What is the future of batteries?
Researchers estimate that between 2021 and 2030, the worldwide lithium battery market is expected to grow by a factor of 5 to 10. Rising demand for consumer electronics as well as the rise in electric vehicles are expected to drive growth. Battery costs have started to rise again after a decade of decline.
What will be the next battery technology?
The most far-reaching battery innovations could come from a number of different players. CATL is working on sodium-ion batteries, while QuantumScape ( QS ), SES ( SES ), SolidPower ( SLDP ) and Toyota Motor ( TM ) are developing solid-state batteries. Both battery types are potential game changers but face technical hurdles.
Why are lithium-ion batteries generally used in mobile phones and laptops?
High energy density: The high energy density is one of the main advantages of lithium-ion battery technology. With electronic equipment such as mobile phones having to go longer between charges while still using more power, there is always a need for batteries with a much higher energy density.
Are lithium-ion batteries used in mobile phones? A lithium-ion battery is a family of rechargeable battery types in which lithium ions move from the negative electrode to the positive electrode during discharge and back during charging. Lithium-ion cell is used in mobile phones and laptops.
Why lithium batteries are used in laptops?
Lithium-based batteries are incredibly safe to use, easy to charge and will store energy for longer. Lithium’s lightweight and malleable nature makes it the ideal battery type for use in portable computers.
Is lithium battery used in laptop?
Lithium-ion cell is used in mobile phones and laptops. Lithium-ion cell is used in mobile phones and laptops.
Why battery is used in laptop?
A battery is a hardware component that supplies power to a device, enabling that device to function without a power cord. Batteries are often able to power a laptop for several hours depending on how much power it requires.
What type of battery is best for a laptop?
Laptops are powered by several different types of batteries. These batteries provide direct current to your laptop. Lithium-ion: This is the type of battery you want in your laptop. This type is light and performs better than the other types of batteries.
Why is lithium used in phone batteries?
Compared to traditional battery technology, lithium-ion batteries charge faster, last longer and have a higher current density for longer battery life in a lighter package. When you know a little about how they work, they can work that much better for you.
Is lithium used in cell phone batteries?
Lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery technology has historically been the power cell of choice for smartphones and a wide variety of other portable gadgets. However, modern smartphones now commonly have lithium-polymer (Li-poly) batteries, a suitable alternative to a wide range of consumer electronic gadgets.
How is lithium used in cell phones?
Most phones rely on a lithium-ion battery, which uses less than a gram (3/100ths of an ounce) of lithium as the “medium” for energy storage. As lithium forms ions, they flow between the anode and cathode to create a charge.
Why are batteries made of lithium?
The lithium ions are small enough to move through a micropermeable separator between the anode and cathode. Due in part to lithium’s small size (third only to hydrogen and helium), Li-ion batteries are capable of a very high voltage and charge per unit mass and unit volume.
Why lithium-ion batteries are commonly used in laptops and mobile phones?
Rechargeable lithium batteries are well known for powering our phones and the latest lightweight laptops. Lithium batteries are lighter and smaller than lead-acid batteries. They also tolerate movement and temperature changes, as well as maintaining their power supply during use.
Why are lithium-ion batteries used in laptops cell phones and in the latest electric and hybrid cars?
Lithium-ion batteries are currently used in most portable consumer electronics such as mobile phones and laptops due to their high energy per unit capacity. mass unit compared to other electrical energy storage systems.
Why do laptops use lithium batteries?
Both battery types have a high energy capacity and last for longer periods before needing to be recharged. Lithium-based batteries are incredibly safe to use, easy to charge and will store energy for longer. Lithium’s lightweight and malleable nature makes it the ideal battery type for use in portable computers.
Why are lithium-ion batteries used in phones?
Compared to traditional battery technology, lithium-ion batteries charge faster, last longer and have a higher current density for longer battery life in a lighter package. When you know a little about how they work, they can work that much better for you.
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