The Million-Mile Battery
The Million-Mile Battery: What It Is, Why It Matters, and How It Could Change The Industry Forever
In the last decade, electric vehicles (EVs) have gone from a far-off dream to a very real and present component of the automotive industry. It’s clear that EVs aren’t done rapidly progressing just yet, as talks of a million-mile battery have begun swirling wildly in 2020.
What exactly is a million-mile battery, though, and why is it worth investing time and energy in?
Understanding the Million-Mile Battery
There’s nothing veiled or tongue-in-cheek about the name—the million-mile battery is precisely what it sounds like: a battery that can power a vehicle for a million miles, as opposed to the standard 60,000 to 150,000 range.
This is no longer just a theoretical concept — Contemporary Amperex Technology recently revealed that it has designed a battery that surpasses that million-mile benchmark and can reach 1.2 million miles. Perhaps it comes as no surprise that this supplier has worked extensively with automaker Tesla, especially considering the fact that the company’s frontman, Elon Musk, has announced intentions of unveiling a million-mile battery this year.
Impacts of a Longer Range Battery
There are a few very obvious advantages of the million-mile battery over ordinary EV batteries, not the least of which is convenience. A battery that requires less frequent charging simply makes for a better driving experience, but that is not the main factor that drove Tesla to explore this innovation.
Musk has cited hopes that Tesla can drive down EV costs and become less reliant upon cobalt as the main forces behind their quest to implement the million-mile battery. By reaching the million-mile mark with battery lifespan, EVs can drive down cost considerably, making them as affordable as ordinary gasoline vehicles.
Cobalt, though necessary for manufacturing batteries, is often procured unethically. When batteries last longer, there is less demand for this resource, meaning the violations occurring in cobalt mines can be minimized.
How The Million-Mile Battery Could Change The Industry
Initially, Tesla only plans to release its vehicles with million-mile batteries in China, though that will likely open up to the rest of the world rather quickly. General Motors is also working to develop a battery with a similar lifespan in conjunction with LG chem, so it’s possible that there will be a number of EVs with abnormally long lives on the market before long.
The most obvious implication of the million-mile battery is, barring some other defect, eclectic vehicles will run for far longer than cars ever have before. Once these eco-friendly vehicles are as economical as regular gasoline-fueled cars, it’s possible that the majority of drivers will be looking to purchase EVs as they offer more longevity with less environmental guilt.
Though it’s likely to be at least months (and possibly even a couple of years) before EVs featuring a million-mile battery are available worldwide, this innovation could usher in yet another wave of renewed interest in electric vehicles, changing the face of the automotive industry forever.
