The complex lithium-ion battery technology is the primary reason why automakers find it so hard to achieve parity between the prices of EVs and conventional cars.
One of the primary reasons for the high cost of Battery Electric Vehicles (BEV) is the battery itself, which is critical to store electrical energy. Currently, battery-powered vehicles use lithium-ion technology, which has been around for quite a while now. Your gadgets, such as smartphones, laptops, tablets, etc., use lithium-ion batteries.
A battery price war is kicking off that could soon make electric cars cheaper. Here's how The main cost of an electric vehicle (EV) is its battery. The high cost of energy-dense batteries has meant EVs have long been more expensive than their fossil fuel equivalents. But this could change faster than we thought.
When they initially hit the market, electric cars were prime examples of new technology with a price premium. Early models cost a lot more than comparable gas-powered cars. More recently, though, the outcomes have been more varied. Some electric cars have gotten more expensive while others have gotten cheaper.
Will EV batteries get cheaper over time?
Over the last decade, the average total cost of an EV battery has dropped by 80%. Everyone knew that batteries would get cheaper over time — that's typical of any new or emerging technology. At some point, the initial investments in research and design are recouped.
Could a 'condensed matter' battery make a good electric car?
Just last year, CATL announced a pioneering “condensed matter” battery for electric aircraft, with up to three times the energy density of an average electric car battery. All the while, researchers are pushing the envelope even further. A good electric car might have a battery with an energy density of 150–250 watt-hours per kilogram.
In mid-2023, the average price of an electric vehicle was about $12,000 more than the average price of a gas vehicle. That's not insignificant, but it's worth pointing out that gas cars are expensive, too. There are many reasons for this, but in 2023, the big one is supply and demand.