Lightweight batteries will be one of the next big breakthroughs in EV technology. One possibility that intrigues engineers is structural batteries, which can be built into the structure of a vehicle’s body or chassis to fulfill load-bearing needs while producing power.
In a conventional battery, the cathode, anode, electrolyte and separator are either stacked or wound around each other in cylindrical or prismatic shapes to fit as much energy as possible into a small space. However, in a structural battery, these components are reconfigured so that the cell can be molded into irregular shapes that can withstand physical stress.