With the world focusing on the use of renewable energy, energy storage has become critical, especially in the transportation sector, as the world seeks efficient and cheap ways of storing energy. Among the new technologies that have attracted much attention, zinc-air batteries can be mentioned as the most suitable for replacing the existing battery technologies, especially those used in motorcycles and cars.
What are Zinc-Air Batteries?
Zinc air batteries are those batteries that use zinc as the negative electrode and draw current from the air for the positive electrode. Unlike other batteries that require the chemicals inside to be used up and hence have a limited life span, zinc-air batteries can be mechanically recharged by replacing the zinc anode and electrolyte solution, making them more environmentally friendly.
Advantages of Zinc-Air Batteries for Vehicles
High Energy Density: Compared to lithium-ion batteries, zinc-air batteries have a higher energy density, which means that they can produce more energy for the same weight or size. This characteristic is beneficial for carriages since it allows them to extend their range while adding minimal weight or size.
Safe and Environmentally Friendly: Zinc-air batteries are assumed to be safer than lithium-ion batteries due to the fact that the former does not pose similar threats of thermal runaway or fire. Also, zinc is a readily available and reusable material; therefore, these batteries are more eco-friendly.
Cost-Effective: Zinc and potassium hydroxide, which are the materials used in zinc-air batteries, are cheaper than the rare earth metals used in lithium-ion batteries.
Long Shelf Life: Zinc-air batteries can have a very long shelf life because the zinc anode does not degrade until the battery is used. Thus, it can self-discharge a little, but not for a very long time.
The Role of Zinc-Air Batteries
Integrating Renewable Energy Sources: The use of zinc-air batteries can be essential in incorporating renewable energy options, such as solar and wind energy, into transportation. These energy sources are inconsistent, while zinc-air batteries can help store the excess energy produced in periods of high production for use when the energy source is scarce.
Extending Vehicle Range: By using zinc-air batteries in electric motorcycles and cars, their range can be extended, and thus, the problem of range anxiety in electric vehicles can be solved.
Reducing Reliance on Fossil Fuels: With the increased usage of zinc-air batteries in the transportation industry, they will help decrease the usage of fossil fuels and hence decrease the emission of greenhouse gases, enhancing a sustainable future.
Challenges and Future Prospects
While zinc-air batteries offer numerous advantages, there are still some challenges that need to be addressed before they can be widely adopted in the transportation sector: While zinc-air batteries offer numerous advantages, there are still some challenges that need to be addressed before they can be widely adopted in the transportation sector:
Limited Cycle Life: At the moment, zinc-air batteries are known to have a comparably fewer number of cycles compared to lithium-ion batteries, which can prove challenging in electric vehicles.
Moisture Sensitivity: The zinc-air battery technology is known to be vulnerable to moisture in that it can cause variations in performance as well as reliability. To address this problem, sealing and enclosure designs need to be enhanced.
Infrastructure Development: Zinc-air battery mass markets will necessitate the establishment of a strong supply chain network for zinc production and disposal.
However, considering the mentioned challenges, motorcycle battery researchers and manufacturers are trying to enhance the efficiency and longevity of zinc-air batteries for the storage of renewable energy in transportation systems.