Scientists at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have broken ground on a low-cost battery alternative. Essentially positioned as an energy storage system, the innovation may offer a pathway "for energy storage to be embedded into concrete, creating the potential for roads and buildings that charge electric devices."
While lithium-ion car batteries have become popular due to their high energy density, there are many concerns that come with them such as the cost to produce and the limited availability of resources like lithium, cobalt, and nickel. MIT claims that its battery alternative can be produced cheaply with materials that are readily available—"the most-used manmade material in the world, cement, combined with carbon black, which is a well-known historical material."
It is clear that MIT's battery alternative has big implications for renewable energy and the auto industry.
Low-Cost Battery Alternatives
MIT Scientists Develop Efficient Energy Storage System
Trend Themes
1. Low-cost Battery Alternatives - Low-cost battery alternatives could disrupt the renewable energy and auto industries by offering cost-effective and easily accessible energy storage solutions.
2. Energy Storage Embedded in Concrete - The concept of embedding energy storage into concrete presents an opportunity for disruptive innovation in the construction and infrastructure industries.
3. Cement and Carbon Black Batteries - The use of cement and carbon black in battery production could revolutionize the materials and manufacturing sectors by providing a sustainable and readily available alternative to lithium-ion batteries.
Industry Implications
1. Renewable Energy - The development of low-cost battery alternatives has the potential to revolutionize energy storage in the renewable energy industry.
2. Auto Industry - The emergence of efficient and cost-effective battery alternatives can drive disruptive innovation in the auto industry by addressing the concerns surrounding lithium-ion batteries.
3. Construction and Infrastructure - The integration of energy storage systems into concrete offers disruptive innovation opportunities in the construction and infrastructure sectors, enabling the development of self-charging roads and buildings.