It is said that it is popular, but "EV is expensive"!Rare metal used for lithium -ion batteries was the bottleneck

The issues that BEV, which rapidly spreads

BEV has quite a few disadvantages.This is one of the factors that cannot be spread, such as charging time and battery price.

　A trend of BEV (battery electric vehicle) shift that goes globally at once. However, there are issues to spread BEVs. This is not something that has begun, but a long -standing technical issue. Specifically, there are three major issues. [Photo] The first "monster EV" with more than 1000 horsepower released by Subaru is the cruising range. Compared to gasoline cars, diesel vehicles, and hybrid vehicles, BEVs have been considered short of full charge. The solution is to increase the battery capacity, but Tesla first used this method, and then the European and American and Chinese manufacturers have also increased battery capacity in high -end models. The second is charging time. Gasoline or diesel fuel can be refueled in a few minutes at a gas station, but in BEV, it takes more than 30 minutes to fully charge with high -power high power, and if the battery capacity is large, the charging time will naturally increase. Delecatal. In addition, even if the equipment is intercharged at home and the company, even if the equipment is improved from general 100V to 200V, it will take more than a night to fully charge. The third is cost. BEV has a smaller parts number than gasoline cars, diesel vehicles, and hybrid vehicles, but the cost of batteries, which is a major member motor and inverter, and the cost of batteries is still high.

Lithium -ion battery costs are desired

Various materials are used in the battery, and because of the high material, it is reflected in the vehicle price.Although it has become overwhelmingly cheaper than several decades ago, the lower price of batteries is likely to be one focus.

　If you look at BEV issues in this way, you can see that the battery is still a large factor. Lithium -ion batteries are said to be the mainstream for BEVs from the next 10 to 20 years. It is also used in mobile phones, but in general, BEV is a large lithium -ion battery. The structure of the lithium -ion battery has a partition material called a separator between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, which is filled with a liquid called an electrolytic solution. The lithium ion moves between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, creating a current associated with charging and discharge. However, there are various types of materials used for the positive electrode and the negative electrode, and the performance of the battery also occurs depending on the combination. In addition, there are several types of batteries, such as cylindrical, square, and pouch type. Generally, the battery itself is called a cell, and a multiple cells are composed of a module, and a module is called a battery pack. Some battery manufacturers and automakers have published data at academic societies, regarding the details of these lithium -ion secondary batteries. According to it, the positive positive material is particularly costly. It is said that cobalt, whose production is restricted, is a factor in high cost. In other words, in order to expand the spread of BEV in the future, it is important to use less restrictions in collecting resources, to obtain sustainable, and to adopt a more durable material at a lower cost. For this reason, in recent years, Toyota and other major car manufacturers have been in collaboration with battery manufacturers and material manufacturers to promote research and development of coballess lithium -ion batteries. There is no doubt that battery technological innovation is the key to BEV spread.

Kenji Momota