The battery technology industry has seen a rapid growth in recent years as countries increasingly switch to clean-powered electric mobility. Currently across the world, four types of batteries are in use: lead acid, lithium-ion (including variants), nickel-metal hydride and vanadium ion batteries. While lead acid and lithium-ion batteries are the only two currently available in the Indian market, several other technologies like vanadium redox, metal-air, metal-ion and liquid metal batteries are also being explored for application across sectors.
Parveen Kumar, senior programme manager, Electric Mobility at the World Resources Institute, a global research non-profit, tells Down To Earth (DTE) that four factors determine whether a new battery technology disrupts the market-energy density (amount of charge in a unit area), cost, safety (health impacts, flammability and explosiveness) and sustainability (including global availability).
This story is from the February 16, 2022 edition of Down To Earth.
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This story is from the February 16, 2022 edition of Down To Earth.
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