With the growing emphasis on greener transportation, electric vehicles (EVs) are emerging as the perfect mobility solutions of the future. An integral component of these vehicles is the batteries, which are also undergoing multifaceted developments, upgrades and hardware improvements. 

In the global context, automotive lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery demand increased by about 65% to 550 GWh in 2022, from about 330 GWh in 2021. Chinese companies have taken the early lead in this space. As of 2022, they own 56% of the EV battery market. Major players among these include CATL, BYD, CALB, Gotion High-Tech, Sunwoda, and Farasis. They are followed by Korean companies such as  LG Energy Solution, SK Innovation, and Samsung SDI (26%) and Japanese manufacturers companies such as Panasonic Corporation, Automotive Energy Supply Corporation (AESC), Hitachi Vehicle Energy Ltd., GS Yuasa International Ltd., and Toshiba Corporation (10%). 

Understanding the ongoing improvements in EV batteries at a more granular level is possible through patent analytics.

Patent analytics in EV battery technology reveals key innovations, market leaders, and trends, guiding stakeholders in R&D and strategic decisions. 

It also highlights shifts in technology, like solid-state batteries, and aids in navigating intellectual property, which is crucial for maintaining competitiveness in this rapidly evolving sector.

In this article, we will deeply dive into patents related to EV battery innovation tech. Our goal is to spot recent patterns, notable contributors, and the path of innovation in this field.

Key EV Battery Innovations Revealed in Patents

The future of Electric Vehicle (EV) batteries is being shaped by a series of remarkable innovations, many of which are protected by patents. Here are some pivotal areas of EV battery innovation:

1. Solid-State Batteries: Solid-state batteries can potentially solve many problems of liquid electrolyte Li-ion batteries, such as flammability, limited voltage, poor cycling performance, and mechanical strength.
   
   Major companies like Toyota, Samsung, and Hyundai are leading the way in patenting solid-state technology. Toyota leads the pack with 1,331 solid-state battery patents. The patents cover a broad mix of designs for solid-state batteries or solid electrolytes, charging and charge protection, coatings, and elements of the cell’s construction. 
2. Silicon Anodes: Silicon is one of the most promising alternatives to commercial graphite anodes owing to its abundance, eco-friendliness, high theoretical specific capacity (~ 4200 mAh g –1), and other advantages over other anode materials. 
   
   Panasonic, Tesla, and LG Chem are among the companies that have filed patents in this area. Panasonic, along with its subsidiary Sanyo, has been a significant player in the development of silicon anodes for lithium-ion batteries. Their patents cover the methods to address the issues of large volume expansion and poor conductivity of silicon.  Tesla has also filed patents that are part of Tesla’s broader strategy to improve their EV batteries’ energy density and efficiency. LG Chem, along with its subsidiary LG Energy Solution, is another major player that has filed numerous patents, including novel silicon anode designs and manufacturing processes.
3. Lithium-Sulfur Batteries: Lithium-sulfur batteries use sulfur cathodes to improve energy density and lower costs. 
   
   Oxis Energy is a key player that has been granted 204 patents for its Lithium Sulfur cell technology. These patents cover specific designs and materials used in these batteries.
4. Battery Thermal Management: Patents related to cooling systems, heat pumps, and other technologies aim to prevent overheating and improve performance and longevity, contributing to EV battery innovation.
   
   Companies like Toyota have patented new battery thermal management systems that combine liquid and air cooling to improve battery performance, durability, and safety. These patents cover systems and methods for regulating the temperature conditions of batteries.
5. Fast Charging Innovations: There are numerous patents on technologies like extremely fast charging and battery swapping stations, which aim to reduce charging time and improve the user experience.
   
   A patent by Renault SAS describes a fast charging device for an electric vehicle that includes a rectifier input stage configured to be connected to a power supply network and an inverter output stage configured to be connected to the battery. Tesla Inc. has a patent for a battery swapping system and techniques with an EESS exchange station configured to position an electric vehicle in x and y directions. 
6. Manufacturing Process Improvements: Patents in this area focus on automating production and developing new electrode materials to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and increase the scalability of EV battery production.
   
   Companies like Renault SAS have patented systems and methods for the efficient assembly of battery modules or packs. These patents cover various aspects of the manufacturing process, including mechanisms for insertion, removal, and locking of the battery pack in the battery bay of the electric vehicle.

What Patent Trends Reveal About the EV Future

Sure, let’s delve into each of these trends:

1. Solid-State Batteries: Solid-state batteries are expected to be the next major breakthrough in EV battery innovation. However, the key challenges for solid-state batteries are manufacturing and cost. The production of a solid-state battery is presently 8x costlier than a lithium-ion battery.
2. Silicon Anodes: Silicon can hold 10 times as many lithium ions by weight as graphite, which makes it a promising alternative for commercial graphite anodes. However, the large volume expansion and poor conductivity of silicon can deteriorate the anode structure, thereby limiting electrochemical performance and inhibiting commercial application.
3. Battery Safety and Preventing Fires/Thermal Runaway: Thermal runaway, a known safety hazard in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs), can be caused by short-circuiting, mechanical stress to the EV battery from impact during an accident, overheating, or poor cooling techniques. Therefore, a growing emphasis on EV battery innovation provides early warning of an impending failure.
4. Fast Charging Speed and Convenience: Fast charging technologies are most effective when your battery is less than 50% full but have a diminishing impact on charge time once the battery passes 80%. 
5. Leveraging AI and Advanced Analytics to Optimize Battery Design: AI-based solutions offer critical EV battery diagnostic capabilities like lithium plating detection and predictive capabilities that assess a battery’s state of health (SOH), aging trajectory, and remaining useful life (RUL). 

Conclusion

From solid-state batteries to silicon anodes and fast-charging technologies to advanced thermal management systems, these patents showcase upcoming developments. Understanding these trends forms the basis for further research, enabling us to anticipate the industry’s trajectory and align our efforts accordingly. 

As we harness the insights from patent analytics, a future where electric vehicles become the norm comes into focus. The journey of discovery and innovation is just beginning, with a promising road ahead for the bright future of EV battery innovation.