Why This Ultra Cheap Battery Breakthrough Matters

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Chapters
00:00 - Intro
01:51 - Dry-Printing Battery Electrodes
05:41 - Trimming Materials to Trim Costs
09:35 - Cheaper, More Plentiful Materials

[simonkunzi]

Maybe it would be time to create a update video where you guys show what happened to the dozens of battery technologies you showed over the past years. I at least would appreciate to see actual progress (real world) instead of the latest (lab) breakthrough.

[jar]

Many commenters seem to think that none of the battery technologies ever get implimented. My lithium iron phosphate battery is 10x cheaper than it was 5 years ago. It has almost 4x the power, weighs 25% of a lead acid and costs the same. Patience, my nerdy, brothers. Its a matter of time...

[paulmurgatroyd]

It's amazing the number of inventions I see on youtube every week that 'change everything'.

[cameronf]

I just can’t wait for these things. Everybody talks about EVs and of course solid states will be great for EVs but I’m seriously excited for others too. Power tools. Electronics. E-bikes with 100 mile ranges. It’ll be incredible for the entire electrical world

[Vigo]

As a cheapass i am already pretty thrilled about where LFP is after years of price drops (35kwh attached to my house currently). The idea of something being substantially better in cost and performance is almost mind-boggling.

[Paul-qeuf]

I'm unclear why some commenters are so negative. I view this channel as a mouthpiece for developing technologies...yes? True, the tech could be years from production. Does that diminish the value of this information? How about viewing objectively presented information...as just that?

[ThisTrenton]

As someone who works in reaserch and development I appreciate the work that goes into these videos. I enjoy learning what is on the bleeding edge even if it might not ever leave the lab.

[JMSobie]

I write training courses on DC fast chargers for a major Class 8 electric truck manufacturer. When students ask me why we make a tractor that costs 3x as much as its diesel equivalent and has a quarter of the range, I point out that battery technology is evolving explosively. Our drive motors produce 10x the starting torque (if we allowed them to; they're limited), it's silent, a joy to drive, no oil changes, no diesel, no DEF. In 10 years that same tractor will be driving full shifts and have a sleeper cab, because the batteries will catch up. Science doesn't care about policy and the political climate. Innovation doesn't wait for spin doctors and talking heads. I stubbornly maintain my own private sense of optimism.

[BrianWelch-vcxy]

These days, whenever I hear someone discuss a breakthrough that will reduce the cost of something, I automatically think of it in terms of shareholder profit.

These batteries won't cost 50% less to the end consumer, they will cost just enough to slightly undercut existing batteries. The rest of the "savings" will go directly into shareholder pockets.

[JanHBuch]

The potential seen in the last couple of years intensive battery research, will inevitably lead to some groundbreaking new developments. Size reduction, better power retention and release, cheaper production cost, improved safety... All are positives to strive towards.

[FrayAdjacentTX]

I just bought a cheap 2013 Nissan Leaf from a coworker. It's showing about 70% battery health on the original battery pack. I'd love to rebuild it with some newer, higher density cells and get a lot more life out of the vehicle. Interesting to see what is coming up!

[krispyywombat]

For all the folks complaining about how many innovations are discovered but never productionized, this video about Sakuu actually is that sort of follow up. The fact they’re working on building production lines with two partners is huge, they’ve been waiting for one for something like a year. I remember Munro Live did a few videos on their process previously, if anyone wants to go see more of it.

[MrMichiel]

This is in my opinion a very honest and hopeful take; it covers multiple aspects of a battery system, and honestly tells what parts are still in R&D and which parts are basically commercials for new battery companies. It straightforwardly explains economical issues with current alternatives and it shows how progress could both cut costs and potentially benefit nature, human society and your own wallet... somewhere in the future.
It could, however, do with some more comparative numbers such as energy densities for the various composites, or some critical thoughts on the actual scalability of the innovations. And It would have been fun to speculate on a ~85% price drop when you imagine all the different innovations in one battery system and its manufacturing line... Tony Seba as well predicts this will happen during the next decade based on the regularity of cost-cutting curves in various energy related industries.

[marchuvfulz]

I subscribe to this channel because it's one of the few places you hear about the astonishing progress being made in green energy tech. One of the most encouraging developments is the progress is finding battery materials that are cheaper, widely available, and more sustainable but offer similar levels of performance.

[Techridr]

I met Sandy Munro in Vancouver, BC at the Electrified Show a few months back and we spoke for about 15 minutes just about Sakuu and this process. He and I are both potential investors. I'm simply waiting for a bit more data on the latest chemistries they're adopting. I've known about Sakuu for over a year now and it's the first battery type and process I've been excited about since the early talks of the somewhat disappointing (for me) 4680.

[MostlyPennyCat]

6:27 It's funny, here in the UK I hear about how in the US a software company like Adobe can charge you to cancel your subscription.
Whereas here in the UK I can go to my banking app and just turn off the Direct Debit rule for Adobe.

[Patiboke]

Cheap and abundant stuff instead of lithium, nickel and cobalt. Fantastic!

[futureer]

I can understand if Kavian doesn't want to share this bit yet, but I would love to know more specifics about their dry printing method. What kind of printing mechanism (binder, laser, extrusion, etc) as well as what amount of processing the raw material needs to become a usable powder. Either way super cool technology and a seemingly brilliant manufacturing system, especially with built in QC and recycling features.

[global_nomad.]

i think we need to be reminded of the things which were in labs 5 years ago which we now take for granted in or products...we always focus on the stuff in the future but often forget to consider we are living in the 'past futures' still hoping that all this development will continue irrespective of how politicans ( and their buddies) undermine the future of all of us.

[tonyc]

3:24 Impressive, but what about production throughput? That is a super significant factor to leave out.