39: Batteries: Past, Present, and Future (ft. Dr. Rachel Carter)

In recent years there has been a big push for renewable energy sources and electric vehicles, but one aspect that is essential in fully implementing these technologies is the energy storage required at a large scale. Li-ion batteries are everywhere in our mobile devices, allowing great performance at more affordable prices year after year. However, there are a lot of issues with Li-ion, and researchers are studying alternatives that will allow us to live in a cleaner world.

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Today’s guest is Dr. Rachel Carter, a Research Engineer at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory. In this episode she dives into the history of Li-ion batteries and its promising future.

In this conversation, we discuss the following topics:

• How does a battery work?
• The battery that won a Nobel prize
• Why is Li-ion special?
• The safety issues in batteries and solid state electrolytes
• How is software used to improve battery performance?
• Battery behavior in different weathers

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Thank you Joao Morgado for editing this episode!

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