lithium, page-11

The other thing to consider is the progress being made in various lithium battery technologies. For example lithium air, lithium sulphur and solid state lithium. Lithium air fhas an energy density roughly the equivalent of petrol - that's about ten times current lithium ion batteries. Lithium sulphur about twice current lithium ion batteries and cheaper to manufacture. Solid state lithium batteries have at least double the energy density of current lithium batteries but at a manufacturing cost about one fifth that of current lithium batteries. Any one or a combination of these battery technologies will make lithium based batteries very difficult to compete with on price. Having been around the EV scene since 2008 I've come across 'game changing' battery breakthroughs about every six months none of which have been commercialised to date. Yes there are new technologies on the horizon with exotic materials such as graphene combined with ultracapacitors but there is much to be worked through yet prior to these reaching the market place. Lithium will be with us for the foreseeable future - after that, it's anyone's guess.