The researchers recently created a battery with the new electrolyte, the new cathode and a conventional anode. This realizes the MIT team's first solid-state lithium battery, or one made completely of solids. And that brings the researchers closer to their ultimate goal. In my judgment, the only technology that has a prayer of propelling a car that far is the solid-state lithium battery. That's based on theoretical studies and on our knowledge of materials' energy densities.
Work continues on the solid-state lithium battery.
For example, with their new insight on how the cathode works, the researchers are exploring new materials that might work even better than those reported in Nature. They are also looking at new anode materials, a task that was always less of a priority because present anode materials don't have as many limitations. Professor Ceder stressed the value of tackling the work as a team. It's an unusually close and good collaboration. The work has been funded in part by Furukawa Electric Co. and the DOE's Idaho National Engineering Laboratory University Research Consortium.