Next-Generation Batteries: Progress and Future Directions

European Roadmaps: Charting the Future of Battery Innovation in Europe

In any major project, having a clear roadmap that outlines the path and objectives is essential.

At the European level, various Battery Roadmaps, such as Battery 2030+ and Eurobat, have been created to steer the future of research and innovation in new chemistries and more sustainable, efficient materials for battery cells. These collaborative projects play a central role in strengthening Europe's market position through research actions designed to transform the way ultra-high-performance, safe, sustainable and accessible batteries are developed and engineered for real-world applications, with the aim of supporting European technological sovereignty.

Currently, Europe lags behind Asian countries in this field. To compete globally, it must close the existing technological gap. Recent supply chain interruptions, raw material cost increases and the need to secure critical raw materials have underscored the importance of diversifying the development of advanced technologies for specific use cases.

The objectives of the European Battery 2030+ roadmap

High Energy Density, Enhanced Safety and Greater Sustainability: These are the Objectives for Next-Generation Batteries

The batteries of the future must address clear priorities, with the main goal being the maximisation of battery performance while also aiming for cost reductions and high safety standards. They must also deliver high energy density.

Alongside the pursuit of greater energy density, cost-effectiveness and longevity, sustainability will be a critical factor. The aim is to ensure that the chosen materials not only meet immediate performance requirements but also align with long-term sustainability goals, minimising any potential environmental or recycling challenges that could arise as these materials are gradually adopted by the market. This also places material selection within a circular economy and eco-design approach.

This effort focuses on developing different chemistries with a clear feasibility outlook in terms of the scalability of production processes. In this context, TRL (Technology Readiness Level) is a vital indicator to gauge how close a technology is to mass production. It is an assessment methodology that indicates a technology’s state of evolution and maturity, essentially how ready it is for commercialisation. While technologies with a high TRL, such as LiFePO4 (LFP) and NMC, are already well-integrated into industrial processes, those with a lower TRL are still in the R&D phase.

The State of the Art of Today’s Batteries: Which Generation Are We Currently at?

We are currently in Generation 3 of battery technologies, specifically in the phase known as Generation 3a. Although some battery systems on the market qualify as “Generation 3”, their performance still falls short of the expectations set for 2030.

The industry is primarily focused on optimising the current NMC and LFP chemistries, aiming to balance energy density, costs and sustainability. Efforts include reducing cobalt content, incorporating silicon anodes and minimising the use of critical materials. At the same time, attention is shifting towards the next generation of batteries, which promises a better balance between high performance, intrinsic safety (prevention of thermal runaway) and reduced environmental impact.

Generation 3b, initially considered the next step in improving energy density, remains in its early stages and is not yet ready for implementation. This is also due to the cost, performance and production effort required to develop the samples.

The Two Chemistries the Market Is Focusing on Today: LiFePO4 and NMC

Outlook: The Evolution of Lithium-Based Chemistries

Research Focused on Solid Electrolytes and Silicon Anodes

Several European collaborative projects are aiming to develop fourth-generation batteries based on solid electrolytes, with or without lithium-metal anodes, which the industry considers a key step towards the full adoption of solid-state technology.

A major step forward could come from the adoption of Silicon Anode Technology. While current batteries are based on graphite anodes, future research is focused on combining this material with a proportion of silicon to increase capacity.

Solid-state batteries with lithium metal could potentially reach energy density levels twice as high as current batteries, overcoming the limits of liquid-electrolyte technologies.

Furthermore, recent industrial studies have highlighted the promising potential of LMFP (lithium-manganese-iron-phosphate). This variation of LFP chemistry increases the concentration of manganese in the cathode material to 80%, compared to the traditional values of 50% to 70%.

This configuration maintains the distinctive safety level of LFP batteries while increasing battery life by 20%.

Post-Lithium-Ion Chemistries: Promising but Need More Time for Development

While lithium-ion batteries are a well-established technology, research is already looking ahead, pioneering breakthroughs that go beyond present limitations. These chemistries, known as post-lithium-ion, exist but are not yet produced on a large scale.

Among these are all-solid-state batteries (Li-ASSB) with lithium-metal anodes, which are not to be confused with other solid state batteries (described below). These promise significant advantages in terms of efficiency and safety. Although not fully adopted for traction, these solutions are already used in devices such as smartphones and drones.

Looking further ahead, technological roadmaps contemplate the introduction of lithium-air chemistry, a solution that would exploit the reaction between lithium metal and oxygen in the air. This approach could significantly increase the battery’s energy density and performance. However, it remains a distant possibility, requiring further study and experimentation before becoming a concrete reality.

Sodium: A Viable Alternative for Applications Not Requiring High Performance

Solid State: Prospects for Enhanced Safety

In the realm of fourth-generation cells, solid-state battery technology stands out as a key innovation, attracting increasing interest for its promise of technological disruption.

Their most significant advancement lies in the use of a solid separator instead of liquid electrolyte. Firstly, removing the liquid electrolyte enhances safety, almost completely eliminating the risk of fire.

This technology, combined with the use of pure lithium anodes, opens the way to so-called Lithium-Metal Batteries (LMB). This configuration offers enormous potential to increase energy density, but it still presents technical challenges that make it a central focus of current studies on solid-state technology.

Creating Next-Generation Batteries: A European Opportunity

The design of next-generation cells affects not only battery performance, but also the entire value chain, from raw material extraction through to recycling. The evolution of cell design is an enabling factor for innovative architectures such as Cell-to-Pack (CTP): combined with higher energy density, this approach can significantly improve overall system efficiency while consolidating Europe's global technological leadership.

Europe has the potential to regain lost ground in battery sector competence development, but a step-up is required to compete against Asian-based actors. These competitors, with their higher production volumes and significant investments in innovation, are pushing the boundaries of both technology and the industrial processes related to batteries. Currently, Europe faces clear challenges: recent battery gigafactory developments indicate that the industrial ecosystem is still not prepared to rival Asian giants.

However, Europe could emerge as a leader in battery recycling. This sector represents a strategic opportunity, supported by a strong research and innovation community that is already demonstrating its ability to develop advanced technologies for recovering critical materials, a key enabler of the circular economy.