A solid-state battery with solid electrolyte (white spheres)
The next advancement could be the creation of the vehicle-compatible solid-state battery. Though there are plenty of benefits to using lithium-ion batteries, they aren’t without drawbacks, including energy storage decline over time, overheating and the requirement of flammable liquid electrolytes. Engineers around the world are working on creating the next generation of solid-state batteries that switch fluid electrolytes for solid alternatives such as ceramics, glass or plastics. A solid electrolyte works in the same way as current fluid versions but would increase the energy density of lithium ions in a battery and make them more powerful. A solid-state battery wouldn’t produce heat as a byproduct and would remove the need for the internal cooling system seen on current EV batteries.