Physical pressure could make EV batteries last twice as long and reduce environmental impact

Craig Brierley Researchers led by the University of Cambridge studied the role of physical pressure on the lifetime of lithium-ion batteries and found that keeping batteries under constant pressure could double their lifespan. Such gains are unheard of in battery development, where tweaks to battery composition usually result in gains of five to 10 percent. Extending the lifetime of electric vehicle (EV) batteries would not only reduce the rate at which they end up in landfill or recycling, but would also reduce the environmental pressures associated with nickel or cobalt mining.