Battery energy density 5x that of 2020
Building on the work done in the 2020s and 2030s, the 2040s will see even further advances in batteries that store more energy in less mass and less volume. Advanced battery chemistries such as metal-air batteries (zinc-air, aluminum-air, and lithium-air) could, in theory, increase energy density by a factor of 10 over current batteries. By the late 2040s, we’re likely to see commercial batteries that can store at least 5x the energy per unit mass of today’s batteries. This advance will enable short and medium range electric aviation and eVTOL, advances in electric shipping, new robots and drones with higher endurance and range than ever before, and will make electric drivetrains the complete dominants for all ground transportation.
Image courtesy of University of Florida