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When highly-flammable lithium batteries ignite it can often have disastrous results.
RMIT University researchers have now developed a means to replace the combustible component.
Professor Tianyi Ma says it's described as a water battery.
“Lithium ion battery has the potential risk to catch fire, because it uses lithium, which is quite active metal and use organic electrolyte, which can catch fire easily when the temperature runs out of control. But in terms of water battery it can never catch fire as we only use water - neutral water as the electrolyte.”
A move to electric modes of transport means more and more lithium batteries are taking to our roads.
With an increasing number of battery fires, emergency crews are being trained on how to respond to the threat.
Emma Sutcliffe of EV FIRESAFE says a lithium battery fire causes what's known as a thermal runaway reaction, which can be difficult to contain.
“When we talk about lithium ion batteries, they are not all created equal. In E-Bikes, E-Scooters, our personal mobility devices, there is a far higher risk of battery fire than there is with electric cars, buses or trucks. Often those e-bikes, e-scooters are used then they're bought inside people's homes to be stored or to be charged - therefore if they catch fire they pose a far higher risk to life and property safety.”
Another concern is their disposal.
his week a French recycling plant went up in flames when lithium batteries caught fire.
But Ms Sutcliffe says the commercial viability of safer alternatives remains a challenge.
“The tricky part is getting those batteries to market and the type of scale that we need to see. So how do we get those batteries to scale and cheap enough that they can be used.”
Right now, the water battery doesn't have the power to run an electric vehicle.
But Professor Ma says it's hoped the technology will be able to one day.
“Batteries are one of the key elements of energy storage. These water batteries could be suitable for from small electronic devices, to electric vehicles to large scale energy storage. The next step of water is to further increase the energy density of water battery by developing new nano materials as electrode materials.”
The concept is among several promising advances in the field.
Dr Timothy Khoo of Deakin University says they're helping prepare the world for the challenge posed by increasing global demand for batteries.
“The options are there, the development of the technology its progressing through. The challenges would be to continue this momentum I think we've started. What I'd like to see is the continued support for development of alternatives.”
Batteries to charge up a safer and more sustainable future.
