The battery is one of the most important inventions of all time. Without battery technology, we would not use many of our modern-day conveniences such as mobile phones, laptops and electric cars.
It’s even more critical when you consider that battery technology innovation has been stagnating for decades. The current battery design was invented in 1859 by French physicist Gaston Planté. While it’s served us well since then, it’s come at a cost: battery technology innovation has been stagnant for decades, and batteries are only improving incrementally.
The most significant battery innovation in a long time was the Tesla battery, which brought back hope that battery technology could improve rapidly. It’s been revolutionary for electric vehicles and has set the bar high for other battery manufacturers to follow suit.
However, these batteries still aren’t ready for consumer electronics or renewable energy storage just yet – they’re too bulky and expensive to produce.
That’s why battery technology innovation is going to be the next big thing in tech.
Batteries Today
Today, there are lots of different types of battery technologies on the market. Still, most of them can be placed into one of three categories: lead-acid, lithium-ion or nickel-metal hydride.
Lead Acid Batteries – The oldest battery technology still used today because they are very cheap to produce and easy to make in all sizes. However, their low energy density means you’ll have to recharge them often. They are very heavy and can catch fire if not properly manufactured.
Lithium-Ion Batteries – These batteries gained popularity in the 1990s with mobile phones. They feature high energy density but require expensive battery management systems due to overheating or even catching on fire without proper circuit protection. They also tend to wear out quickly and cannot withstand high levels of charge.
Nickel Metal Hydride Batteries – These batteries gained popularity in the 1990s with mobile phones. Still, battery management systems are even more critical for these battery types than lithium-ion ones because nickel-metal hydride can be damaged if charged or discharged too fast.
Our Biggest Limitation Today.
Batteries. While it’s unlocked limitless wireless & portable technology applications, it’s also the biggest barrier to the next stage of technology.
Smartphones, cars, cameras, vapes, smartwatches, headphones. The list of everyday portable battery-powered devices is endless, and the one thing they all struggle most with is balancing power usage with battery capacity.
Quite simply, the greater the battery capacity, the greater the output. It’s like comparing a PC to a smartphone or a smartphone to a wearable.
Imagine your smartphone battery lasting an entire year. Or your earphones only needing to be charged once every five years. Or your Elf Bar disposable vape device lasting for months, not ever needing to be charged. More efficient batteries would very powerfully increase the quality of experience surrounding technology.
Unlocking New Technology
Not only would a battery innovation improve the quality of technology today, but it would also make new types of technology possible, specifically wearables & mini devices.
Imagine a GPS tracker that could monitor your car location for years without ever having to recharge. Or a GPS tracker in your wallet to ensure you never lose it. Or how about every regular item becoming smart? Like that wallet? Or your keyring? Or maybe even something as simple as your sunglasses tracking UV absorption? New batteries would revolutionise the entire world of wearables and security beyond belief.
Wireless Charging Will Become The Norm
In a world where batteries last for years instead of days, there’ll be another great side-benefit to our daily lives: no more charging cables or rogue wires lying around your house or office.
Even better, wireless charging will be more than adequate for keeping devices topped up without the need for quick charging. It won’t ever be a necessity, more of a proactive habit, integrated into everyday furniture. Drop your phone on your table, and your device will top up a % of battery here n there, adding more days to your battery life.
Who knows, with future battery innovation, maybe we’ll never need a charging cable ever again.
Okay, fantastic, but how possible is it?
Once upon a time, the thought of someone on the other side of the globe being able to hear your voice would have been truly impossible. However, radio & phones made that possible.
So, how possible is a future of near-infinite battery life? Very possible indeed. The only question is, who will be the first to discover the next evolution of battery technology?
