The growth of lithium-ion battery power
- Thread starter eoghan
- Start date
Alphbetadog
Active Member
Interesting charts, but I don't think the manufacturing capacity one even accounts for the Tesla Gigafactory's capacity. Once they get their Powerwall going at the anticipated price, not to mention filling the backlog of the new Model 3, there is going to be a tremendous out of output of lit-ion batteries. The big downside of solar is storing the power generated and using it at night. The Powerwall will solve this and should appeal to most everyone that already has a home or commercial solar system, plus encourage more. Just think of the ability to be totally independent of the power company, and to have a reliable system for remote areas.
indianajo
Well-Known Member
Five hundred times deep cycle limit is a powerful inhibitor against using lith-ion in solar power backup. That limit is fine for cell phones, people throw them away in 18 months when they upgrade anyway. But for house power? replacing the battery after a year and a half of dark nights?
Utilities need to build dams and pump water uphill on sunny afternoons. In California they made the news last month for paying a Nevada utility to burn up excess solar power on sunny afternoons.
Utilities need to build dams and pump water uphill on sunny afternoons. In California they made the news last month for paying a Nevada utility to burn up excess solar power on sunny afternoons.
Alphbetadog
Active Member
I'm sure Tesla will be using their sophisticated BMS and cooling system on the Powerwall that they use on their cars. Much higher quality cells than you see on laptops and cell phones.
Statistics that include Tesla factory (and other big batteries) is only remotely applicable to ebikes.
Agreed with questionable value of Li for solar homes - higher cost per cycle than AGM or flooded, and higher energy density (of Li) doesn't matter in this case.
RV - this is where Li shines, due to high energy density. They could carry enough energy not to use a generator for a week-long trip, also for those with solar it makes easier to ride out dark weather spell without a generator.
Cost per cycle is not important for most RV-ers. $60K motorhome or $30K trailer/fifthwheel is a luxury item, besides, many RV are used only occasionally, on weekend or vacation, so the battery lasts several years. Those in very cold climate zones will have problems though.
Agreed with questionable value of Li for solar homes - higher cost per cycle than AGM or flooded, and higher energy density (of Li) doesn't matter in this case.
RV - this is where Li shines, due to high energy density. They could carry enough energy not to use a generator for a week-long trip, also for those with solar it makes easier to ride out dark weather spell without a generator.
Cost per cycle is not important for most RV-ers. $60K motorhome or $30K trailer/fifthwheel is a luxury item, besides, many RV are used only occasionally, on weekend or vacation, so the battery lasts several years. Those in very cold climate zones will have problems though.
Last edited:
Similar threads
