There are issues with electric cars (EVs), and rising battery costs drive up automobile pricing. However, a new Gigafactory by Enerpoly in Sweden suggests that zinc-ion batteries might provide a solution. This plant, which is situated north of Stockholm, intends to lessen Europe’s reliance on massive Chinese battery manufacturers like BYD and CATL.
With a 6,500-square-meter footprint, the Enerpoly Production Innovation Center aims to produce 100 GWh of energy annually by 2026. This massive effort has the potential to boost sectors, boost employment, and fortify Europe’s supply network.
Despite having a lower energy density (100 Wh/kg) than lithium batteries (200–300 Wh/kg), zinc-ion batteries nevertheless offer benefits. These batteries have a 2–10 hour discharge duration and are environmentally beneficial both in terms of production and disposal. Enerpoly asserts that because zinc-ion batteries use non-flammable water-based electrolytes, they are safer, more affordable, and more environmentally friendly.
In an instance that occurred recently in South Korea, where a burning lithium battery caused major damage, zinc-ion batteries may also help reduce the risk of fire in electric vehicles. It is anticipated that zinc-ion batteries will require less maintenance and last up to 20 years.
Offering a viable substitute for upcoming EVs, Enerpoly’s zinc-ion battery combines metallic zinc as the anode, manganese dioxide as the cathode, and a water-based electrolyte.
