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With  Dr Euan McTurk, Consultant Battery Electrochemist

With Dr Euan McTurk, Consultant Battery Electrochemist

Released Friday, 29th March 2024
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With  Dr Euan McTurk, Consultant Battery Electrochemist

With Dr Euan McTurk, Consultant Battery Electrochemist

With  Dr Euan McTurk, Consultant Battery Electrochemist

With Dr Euan McTurk, Consultant Battery Electrochemist

Friday, 29th March 2024
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0:00

Hello I'm Robert. Well in and

0:02

welcome to a special podcast take

0:05

over episode from my good friend

0:07

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0:09

you may know Quentin. I have

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0:13

to address the growing issue of

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misinformation on eve ease and clean

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we bring you a Stop Burning

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Stuff podcast series dedicated to fact

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0:44

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0:46

day. Welcome.

0:49

To another Stop Burning Stuff podcast

0:51

with me Quincy Wilson and today

0:53

I'm going to be talking to.to

0:55

you and Turk of Plug Live

0:58

Television who is an electric chemist

1:00

and battery engineer And you and.

1:03

Like. Me has been driving a

1:05

even since two thousand and nine

1:07

so where are you know that

1:09

doubt he banned if of early

1:11

adopters who went through that whole

1:14

journey of these cars that that

1:16

you know we're we're we're doing

1:18

any fifty miles to and charge

1:20

and stuff like that and and

1:22

and you and did a phd

1:24

on next generation lithium chemistries at

1:26

some time druze an Oxford so

1:28

everything you ever wanted to know

1:31

about he the batteries. He is

1:33

your man. So let's let's begin

1:35

you and with that that that

1:37

That first very obvious myth that

1:39

we hear so much is that

1:41

he the batteries don't last that

1:44

you need to replace them every

1:46

sort of for five years and

1:48

it cost the price of the

1:50

car. So tell me about the

1:52

longevity we're seeing from these first

1:55

Jen batteries I Clinton. So I'm

1:57

kind of living proof of this

1:59

because. I have a Tesla

2:01

sitting on the driveway. The Dicks from

2:03

Twenty Fifteen is clocked up a hundred

2:06

and thirty thousand miles and I'm have

2:08

only known it. From. About

2:10

ninety thousand miles old but I've

2:12

not seen it. Did read his range.

2:15

any sense that I reckon it has

2:17

lost at most ten percent of

2:19

it's a reasonable range versus when you

2:21

still does, It is easy to hundred

2:24

plus miles per charge. Is

2:26

go into that guys and. Based

2:28

on a battery pack from Twenty Fifteen

2:30

which is based on a cell chemistry

2:32

from the early twenties. hands. If we

2:35

have a look at the chemistries that

2:37

are coming, others lives today or should

2:39

I say the Kennedys are coming off

2:42

with production lines are going into electric

2:44

vehicles today. the everything Further improvements in

2:46

the race to take addition. using that

2:48

even further and that combines with greater

2:51

understanding of how to manage about it

2:53

comes to keep it at his optimum

2:55

temperature, not just tooling. it's to which.

2:58

Away sheets before it can cause any

3:00

kind of damage. For also a heating

3:02

it's to optimum temperature not just if

3:04

the weather is particularly cold outside but

3:06

as it's about to approach about the

3:08

charger so that they can take on

3:10

maximum power possible. So actually we've we've

3:12

learned quite a lot about how the

3:14

not just chilling that actually him to

3:16

get rid of hitting a strategically at

3:18

the right choice at all of this

3:20

adds up to very conservatively. We

3:23

estimate the B B C three hundred

3:25

thousand plus miles lifespan. I was modern

3:27

electric vehicle batteries and in fact if

3:30

we want an accelerated aging tests reasonable

3:32

looted see Ember Electric Intercity bosses the

3:34

her running. Between. Dundee and

3:37

Edinburgh and Glasgow and back on

3:39

one charge run track of these

3:41

it undies. The oldest of those

3:43

buses have clocked up over six

3:45

hundred and fifty thousand kilometers on

3:47

battery power alone, and out of

3:49

the their batteries are of the

3:52

state itself as I'm in other

3:54

words, the capacity as today there

3:56

says when they produce is somewhere

3:58

in the high eighties. Though he

4:00

sees batteries are not degrading anywhere near

4:02

as quickly as they they are the

4:04

naysayers would have he and it is

4:06

older into the fact that the bush

4:08

chemistries we have an electric vehicles are

4:11

a different breed, not just in terms

4:13

of the exact chemistry, the, the quality

4:15

of production and the quality of the

4:17

way that are managed versus batteries that

4:19

we haven't. Smart phones, laptops,

4:21

the zebra literally for general and some of

4:23

the more kind of purely bill he bikes

4:25

and hover boards stuff the causing issues and

4:28

such as a totally totally different James yes

4:30

this lithium ions but there's a lot to

4:32

read into on the exact title. Suggests.

4:35

To be cleared. And as an electric

4:37

chemist who's who's done a Phd on

4:39

on Betty degradation, you're saying that that

4:41

that leads to the life expectancy of

4:43

of a modern a lithium ion battery

4:45

in an electric car is up to

4:47

three hundred thousand miles. Or I mean

4:50

that's being completely conservative. I wouldn't be

4:52

surprised in the slightest if they go

4:54

over that. I mean if you look,

4:56

for example, at Ten a Tesla, give

4:58

claims for a while that they have

5:00

a one million mile battery And fact

5:02

some of the latest chemistry says if

5:04

Im working. On was just an Uzi.

5:06

our research to the chest and is more

5:08

than just that. The One Nine this very

5:11

subtly the left and I can assume that

5:13

groups over and Dell has a university in

5:15

Canada. They've worked with Tesla for many years

5:17

now and they claimed that developed a four

5:20

million mile battery Know admittedly that the Cycles

5:22

thirty two savagely and it was her. A

5:24

little sale at large scale wasn't a battery

5:27

pack. Commercial scale

5:29

but the underlying alleged chemistry is that

5:31

she was from see signs of be

5:33

able to skills will get. Even more

5:35

lifespan and we're looking at basically the

5:37

that she got outlasting the car these

5:40

days with modern electric vehicles rolling off

5:42

with production lines. If you don't manage

5:44

to get the a city to our

5:46

last the sassy you are either. I'm

5:49

living in a very dry climate that doesn't

5:51

get any salt hundred on the roads and

5:53

degrade the chassis not way or you have

5:55

done something spectacularly wrong in the way that

5:58

you've designed to a city bus with. So

6:00

much experience Know and by we I mean

6:02

that the automotive industry or how to design

6:04

a battery properly. That the odds

6:06

of that kind of early degradation of

6:09

are are quite slim pointed. A sounders

6:11

think that the outlier, the exception to

6:13

this rule is the very first Nissan

6:16

Leaf. He also fitted something clever with

6:18

the battery chemistry it didn't have cool

6:20

and at an hour or if it's

6:22

as if is hardly any and wishes

6:25

is good from an ethical perspective. But.

6:28

Unfortunately that chemistry wasn't particularly temperature solar

6:30

it and of his new thermal energy

6:32

systems within actively to itself with air

6:35

or water or be able to present

6:37

school was it even the even the

6:39

early mitzvah she's in Persia Iron Deficiency

6:42

Zeroes had a cooling but those the

6:44

early leaves didn't did they know know

6:46

and that this was the beach don't

6:49

fall of innocently sinister least as borderline

6:51

mechanically indestructible and that's why when I

6:53

got my Tesla and which dates from

6:55

the days when test for the still.

6:58

Trying to learn how to make a talking

7:00

are very good at making batteries motors but

7:02

not so much and they can the rest

7:04

of the car so you know in terms

7:06

of reliability still better than any Paschal car

7:08

have had but it's a silly things go

7:10

wrong with only cases and my point is

7:12

that to I kept my least partly because

7:15

I knew it was just the indestructible and

7:17

dependable and reliable. And it has

7:19

been a not been all over the

7:21

place that the cecile able to trust

7:23

them to journeys as he really wanted

7:25

to just it's charging more often because

7:27

as an older ones for the problem

7:29

with a recess that the the battery

7:31

pack doesn't have that several management and

7:33

is never as several management despite buyers

7:35

so Cns and pleading with some please

7:37

for the sake of five hundred quid

7:39

pro vehicle to in a proper liquid

7:41

refrigerant systems and that means of these

7:43

batteries a less so much longer but

7:45

yet the original leaf that have vegetation

7:47

issues enough was. Exposed on top gear

7:49

and I think of his party beginners was

7:52

just trying to get a very heavily degraded

7:54

Mark One. This on least to do our

7:56

balls and grand prix or something like this

7:59

Massacre The Charger. The way through because

8:01

the race without delay thirty miles per

8:03

charge. That was probably the worst example

8:05

to they could find of the worst

8:08

example with electric vehicle for for a

8:10

shooting at. Them. Said. Let

8:12

let let let's just understand why this

8:14

mess about back to the glaciers so

8:17

embedded it's still there. You still see

8:19

people I had taken Mpm of on

8:21

twitter. he was saying that they any

8:23

last five years me that keep replacing

8:25

and I do on my constituents that

8:27

to be poor and cold I'm. Why

8:30

don't more people know about this? Is

8:32

it. Is it. Have we failed in

8:35

our message jenks as the industry failed?

8:37

Because if you're seven frantic about this,

8:39

I'm an An. and three hundred thousand

8:42

miles is is longer than most combustion

8:44

engines will last, and certainly they wouldn't

8:46

have that that ninety nine fact that

8:48

efficiency and why are we we we

8:51

know knowing this small more broadly. Honestly,

8:54

I think quite a lot of the blame. Lies.

8:57

With said mainstream journalism from lasting

8:59

because there's just not enough much

9:01

effort to educate themselves on reality

9:03

as a matter arcs to as

9:05

they do not. a Reality of

9:07

the Masters Educate the public on

9:09

that because it offers a kind

9:11

of censor certain agenda support and.

9:13

What? With with seats just as continuous and

9:16

have peddling of of the same old

9:18

mr such as a come up again

9:20

and again and again but also and

9:22

types of the members of the public

9:24

have if you've never had an electric

9:26

vehicle before but of course you how

9:28

to more powerful you've had a laptop,

9:30

the hada, a hover boards or something

9:32

like this seems seen how quickly of

9:34

lithium ion battery and that degrees and

9:36

this is badly managed. a sin. To

9:39

she's the voltage is higher than an electric

9:41

vehicle which on an individual cell that will

9:43

push me says integrates faster It doesn't keep

9:45

them. To I which as we

9:47

just disgusts causes issues with degradation the

9:50

center of the hardware and you know

9:52

and also you'll send to find some

9:54

of that. The current draw for example

9:57

can be a dick more extreme, particularly

9:59

on some. The recent examples like

10:01

Faiths and You they'll to push Daddy

10:03

I see rates in other words with

10:05

power be drawn from it versus the

10:08

energy the that that sell to takes

10:10

so I'm on electric vehicle. It's a

10:12

very very casual existence for a Lithium

10:15

myself but in some other applications to

10:17

be quite extreme under constant exposure to

10:19

high temperatures, idle for just saw and

10:21

then people conflate an inner ear your

10:24

consider electronics batteries which also largest through

10:26

the made in terms of the electric

10:28

industry and production lines. And so on

10:30

and comparison to let you be commercially the

10:32

conflict news with electric vehicle batteries in the

10:35

soon Well this phone behaves in this manner

10:37

so this will ensure equal the also have

10:39

lithium ion batteries will be in this manner

10:41

to not true. Too I

10:43

think that more or secondly and

10:45

mainstream journalists need to the. Actually

10:48

in of delving into this properly and

10:50

having a look at the likes of

10:52

the of the Test for High Mileage

10:54

club for him and his other reason

10:56

have done very high mileage assuming a

10:58

perfect example, on with it or are

11:00

on original then was a way to

11:02

twenty two kilowatt hours a week. On

11:05

which has been doing the rounds in

11:07

Turkey as a taxi so am fairly

11:09

hot climate and ended the several management

11:11

or nice just be directing the air

11:13

conditioning over the battery packs with blows

11:16

on it. To particular don't have

11:18

nowhere near as good liquid they several management

11:20

system again the thing with into kinda six

11:22

figures those of kilometer it you will be

11:24

in this case rather than mileage and the

11:26

the should use the still say that the

11:29

high her and she was a few years

11:31

ago this reported know for the point is

11:33

that even the older more kind of rudimentary

11:35

electric vehicles years always your Bmw Ice visa

11:37

cetera are still go into distance and we

11:40

need to be something that from rooftops because.

11:42

She's older movies could do that. then

11:45

the new stuff is coming out. This

11:47

could be even more capable of last

11:49

even longer for two reasons. One against

11:51

is better and I also the back

11:53

in I suspect the also to the

11:55

basic that is bigger of the amount

11:57

of power required to do. Kiwi

12:00

he retiring uses like for example twenty Killer

12:02

was roughly to sustain three can't see sixty

12:04

miles an hour on a road that still

12:07

going to be the same but should pass.

12:09

he is bigger with me to doesn't need

12:11

to work hard to do that was me

12:13

just degrading less so it's just get as

12:15

much as getting better all the time. Let's

12:18

talk about and repair ability

12:20

will we? Can.

12:22

Come to stage where we can

12:24

take these packs to pieces and

12:26

change change models. Is

12:29

already happening so there are certain

12:31

source party providers who are either

12:33

did elephants and repair processes and

12:35

this is quite common for him

12:37

for some members of for example have

12:39

rather hybrid and electric vehicle repaid

12:41

alliance of which clearly he's probably that

12:43

the jewel in the trying to

12:45

the most well known even have mobile

12:48

mechanics is you have visited my

12:50

house on many occasions so m yes

12:52

there are there are some companies

12:54

who could potentially drop the battery to

12:56

do proper kind of diagnostic soreness

12:58

replace. A faulty module because most

13:00

way to be called actually banks are made

13:03

up have little building block and all kind

13:05

of fit together to don't need to. Sauces

13:07

are bad for you can just replace part

13:09

of the or alternatively you can swap him.

13:12

He. Replaced with Ashley back entirely if

13:14

the sales have degraded to the point.

13:17

Six. Universally degraded as not usually one or

13:19

two of have gone before addresses and if

13:21

the degraded to the point that yeah okay

13:23

this is not and eat it is no

13:25

use for me anymore not getting be raised

13:28

the I need then your options are either

13:30

sell it to someone who needs a shorter

13:32

raised as quick a lot of very all

13:34

the these that ended up and retirement in

13:36

Orkney and where there's very small islands very

13:38

small to beauty salon and they believe they're

13:40

very happily and it's also nice to claim

13:42

that is well so what some very well

13:44

for those original this at least with a

13:47

stylus point. Eight, however, The the

13:49

other option you've got his to upgrade the

13:51

battery and again there are companies who not

13:53

only the take for example, Had. An

13:55

original Nissan Leaf within. Twenty four? What Was

13:57

Twenty Four? Killer? Whatever. Once upon a time,

14:00

Actually that heavily degraded and swapped

14:02

out. For say the foresee

14:04

kilowatt hour battery from the new least

14:06

that was also companies to I can't

14:08

disclose the moment but there are are

14:11

very subtle the people working on aftermarket

14:13

grades which would not only get a

14:15

boost the capacity that is why I

14:17

just mentioned of the but also hopefully

14:20

introduced proper thermal management where does require

14:22

and that means that these otherwise mechanically

14:24

perfectly intact indestructible machines because the saw

14:26

the sought to go wrong with somebody

14:29

really isn't a lot of cases be

14:31

or exactly yes to that no interest.

14:33

In enough so that they city go

14:35

and and this will allow these electric

14:37

vehicles to keep going and I can

14:40

tell you know that as the Uk

14:42

market decides owner would rather have the

14:44

latest shiny think there are plenty of

14:46

other right hand drive markets to these

14:48

vehicles will be supported to with those

14:51

and third party. That report updates

14:53

and a fantasy and quite a lot

14:55

of this happening our or the beginnings

14:57

of this happening in Australia, New Zealand

14:59

where I'm in Australia Finally got on

15:01

board with Renewables A D V. So

15:03

this is is making up for lost

15:05

time to aspect of two weeks. New

15:08

Zealand is an underserved market where they're

15:10

heavily rely on Japanese imports. Japan has

15:12

not been as take on electric vehicles

15:15

apparently because the so little off street

15:17

parking and so much of the communal

15:19

car parks are actually these that a

15:21

futuristic kind of robotic elevators you drive

15:23

the car on analytics up again parks

15:25

it somewhere so the up the acts

15:28

of plugging the of equal in what

15:30

is in one of those robots i

15:32

start box is actually quite difficult. Switches

15:34

fly. Hybrids have been more popular in

15:36

Japan an electric vehicles. That there is

15:39

a trickle of them available. but in terms

15:41

of getting up to scratch and importing those

15:43

you feel into struggling they could easily see

15:45

facts and go okay. What Britain fallen out

15:47

of favor with was it was a the

15:50

Old Hat by their Sanders. Okay with developed

15:52

an aftermarket battery packs or Been or someone

15:54

else who has will just import the law

15:56

figure altogether and you're ready to go hand.

15:59

In terms of. Importing second and

16:01

electric vehicles from the Uk? That

16:03

something is already happening in Tasmania.

16:05

As. Well. So. I get that

16:07

see the eagles will keep going and

16:10

they will have very robust revival happy

16:12

life elsewhere if we decide which other

16:14

Hathaway to shiny think but as actually

16:16

surprisingly also market for doing this year

16:18

to with taxi drivers the quite like

16:20

that all these apart from that actually

16:22

starting to degrade we that so the

16:24

i actually feel something on the door

16:27

These companies have seen. Can. We

16:29

help especially that doctor. he can have the if

16:31

you could swap Yes we can buy shiny new

16:33

vehicle to be like this one. We trust that

16:35

we know it works. For. This is

16:37

a moment is now in in in

16:39

the history of of of the car.

16:41

Where are we looking at something that's

16:44

that's been a much much longer life

16:46

expectancy than a combustion cars and is

16:48

Hugh Grant rightly say the receive you

16:50

moving parts said there are so few

16:52

suit few few component failures in it.

16:55

You can can improve upgrade the battery

16:57

so it can do five hundred thousand

16:59

seven hundred thousand a million miles. Then

17:01

it is. It's a car citizens virtually

17:03

will last forever. Oh

17:06

yeah, no doubt any. Was this a

17:08

very strong sense that sounds his would

17:10

have to replace the Shashi before you

17:12

have to replace the Not you The

17:14

Victory or than the motor and many

17:16

of these vehicles. And in fact that's

17:19

why that is actually until very recently

17:21

until the most recent kind of glut

17:23

of secondhand east became available because all

17:25

of the Candy Company car leases ended

17:27

at the same time after for years

17:29

of the Tesla Model Three being on

17:32

the market, etc and. As

17:34

recently as Twenty Twenty Two and someone

17:36

God that's awful happy and rats their

17:38

electric car around to treat it as

17:41

a fierce bidding war over the past

17:43

and the motor you find that would

17:45

inevitably end up going to people who

17:48

retrofit classic cars to electric propulsion. so

17:50

even if he's eagles have clocked up

17:52

considerable knowledge. People. Know people

17:55

in the no no for those batteries

17:57

are in good condition that most recently

17:59

tradition. That can reap our a

18:01

cherished classic vehicle or a a nice

18:03

vehicle added you see the equal of

18:06

some description. Says that you

18:08

ever beloved see you in Is Is

18:10

is important on a number of levels

18:12

but not least the insurance as well

18:15

which is now being a big issue

18:17

for these and insurance companies else because

18:19

they don't understand the technology or just

18:21

even with a small dent on a

18:24

on a on a battery pack casing

18:26

writing the whole car off said if

18:28

we can as establish this this this

18:31

aftermarket hopefully with with with with corporation

18:33

from their yams we can lower insurance

18:35

premiums by making those batteries. Repairable

18:37

after accidents. How. Easily

18:40

yeah. And as not just the case

18:42

of missing and repairable is making insurance

18:44

companies aware that they are already repairable

18:46

and and created. I think this is

18:48

quite a lot of onus on insurance

18:50

companies and the repair workshops for they

18:52

work with whether it's and house or

18:54

third party to get the skills required

18:56

to do that. It's as lazy off

18:58

Any once it's is to sit back

19:00

and say well we don't know what

19:02

we're doing with this technology super. Just

19:04

gonna check out the premium know don't

19:06

deserve such a silly you know as

19:09

as you. Want to stay in business if you

19:11

want to be relevant? Feel this

19:13

is your. This is actually your

19:15

business. It is your responsibility. To.

19:17

Get that training to get that knowledge and there are

19:19

people out there who can help. And for what it's

19:22

worth, There. Are One or food

19:24

insurance companies who are starting to

19:26

look seriously into these requirements? They

19:28

are reaching out to people in

19:30

the know and an attempt to

19:33

to get this understanding. Yes, I

19:35

Voltage Electronics. and yes, it's High

19:37

Voltage Electrical says well, as you

19:39

say, it's an American disaster. Concerns

19:41

about batteries in if you've been.

19:44

A massive massive crush at the battery. Self

19:46

esteem physically damaged which to be honest with

19:48

me to be a horrific cross because it's

19:51

the best presented part of the secret passage

19:53

of for enough anyway. yeah, completely know exactly

19:55

spot To be honest, the so many as

19:57

you say you know at the be a.

20:00

Motion and some insurance companies or

20:02

right coffee sequels had it means

20:04

to these reach professors I mentioned

20:06

earlier and these can assisted life.

20:11

Or just laughing their way to the back

20:13

to select. Excellent thought The called only a

20:15

few thousand miles We know that she's in

20:17

great condition and we know that that kind

20:20

of fastest doesn't damage of ushered. So yeah

20:22

we will bite out of here for. Super.

20:25

Cheap and then you will will secure

20:27

into this energy story system. but is

20:29

that Such was the center francis bidding

20:31

war over. You. T V Batteries

20:33

until we started see this this

20:35

last reply on the secondhand market

20:37

that as recently as Twenty Twenty

20:39

two according to the fantastic analysts

20:41

at Circular Energy Storage Research at

20:43

the Hands Out now and his

20:45

friend of everything electrically charged to

20:47

stop burning us and so I

20:49

just at least twenty twenty to

20:51

use electric vehicle batteries from crash

20:53

all these vehicles, etc. Set

20:56

up to twice what they cost to the

20:58

manufacturer when they were new. Yeah I

21:00

mean I've seen the money Betty you know

21:02

ten thousand pounds for a modern three

21:04

battery pack and and and six thousand fans

21:07

for even a least wait for could

21:09

what packs a Us these did the off

21:11

the market is is ready books Let's

21:13

let's move on to Fires is another very

21:15

very very an embedded mates that you

21:17

know you you're more likely to catch foreign

21:20

a D V than a combustion car.

21:22

Tell us how how nonsensical that is You.

21:24

And. Thirty Am

21:26

if we have a look at

21:28

the statistics and an electric vehicle

21:30

is between twenty and sixty times

21:32

less likely to catch fire on

21:34

an internal combustion engine vehicle. And

21:36

that's based on statistics from Sweden

21:38

and from the Us and other

21:40

countries will tell you pretty much

21:42

the same that we somewhere within

21:44

that at a ballpark and on

21:46

also within some of those statistics

21:48

there are some important to situation.

21:50

So for example, Sweden saw the

21:52

same number of electric vehicle fires.

21:54

Here on year I think this was twenty twenty

21:57

one to twenty twenty two is it wasn't if

21:59

is within. The years of the enemy

22:01

the point is same numbers as a fecal

22:03

fires a letter people forest but. With.

22:06

An increased number of electric vehicles on

22:08

the road. So actually the odds of

22:10

your electric vehicle catching fire were decreasing.

22:12

as the vehicle park, the vehicle fleet

22:14

was increasing. And the other

22:16

consideration as I've already has a dig

22:19

at He Bikes and Hover Boards has

22:21

one and the great and principal for

22:23

there are too many, the are badly

22:25

designed and badly manufactured and artist your

22:27

life urges as well. Oh god yeah

22:29

yeah to the charger is an issue

22:31

with them as well. If you buy

22:33

cheap you potentially by settle with He

22:35

Bikes Hover Boards. You need to make

22:37

sure that they are properly made a

22:39

bronze between reliable products because. Quite.

22:42

Often those to say statistics get

22:44

shocked and with electric vehicle and

22:46

know that as a totally totally

22:48

different type of quality of manufacturing

22:51

isn't military quality for electric cars

22:53

and houses etc and also for

22:55

your your teeth nasty he thought

22:58

it somewhere online. For

23:00

the cover for to the vice so it's

23:02

important not to confuse those two. And as

23:04

the other thing about electric vehicle fires and

23:06

fan. And. I remember a

23:08

recent parties with Easy Physicists have

23:11

is a fantastic to the statistic

23:13

in there something like forty

23:15

percent of electric vehicle Firestone actually

23:18

involve the battery and in one

23:20

scenario that as an entire building

23:22

fun go around the electric

23:24

car and they didn't catch fire.

23:27

Science know we're starting to look

23:29

at batteries the aren't even

23:31

flammable. So yes we've been using

23:34

Lithium Nicole Cobalt Manganese Oxide. Far

23:36

as you. Most. Of the most

23:38

of the the twenty times we prefer eating

23:41

at the day for long range electric vehicles

23:43

for n and see if you managed properly

23:45

is perfectly fine for if you do something

23:47

really stupid like drill straight through it but

23:50

it's to charge. Yes, it's going it very

23:52

quickly. Red hot gas the catches fire. Never

23:55

know. Starting to see Lithium are phosphates

23:57

starting to be offered? In fact the

23:59

other. Knowing electric vehicles of the

24:01

Uk as L A P option so

24:03

that last year with the Tesla Model

24:06

White and the entry for additionally be

24:08

why these letter the Eagles Tesla Model

24:10

Three, Maxus Electric Van Susteren and electric

24:12

buses like Embers they use L S

24:14

P. A voice that importantly

24:16

explain the L. If he doesn't have

24:19

Cobalt, it doesn't It's less. I'm lucky

24:21

to have thermal runaway correct. Correct. So

24:23

not only is it more ethical causes

24:25

new Cobalt was no Nickel is basically

24:28

Lithium plus rusted vet fertilizer if you

24:30

were at the raw materials, but also

24:32

yes, you could drill straight through it

24:34

and it's fully charged and some versions

24:36

water and hop. Gosh, but we won't

24:39

catch fire. The reason seeing the oxygen

24:41

within the. Old. Feed Us You're

24:43

looking on phosphate. It's. Not

24:46

worth how convenient for the structure than

24:48

others and so there's not much oxygen

24:50

been released as means of is less

24:52

inclined to catch fire and I've seen

24:54

some a music videos of people shooting

24:57

at them whistling source and also i

24:59

try to get caught fire they're just

25:01

not interested at all and then. He

25:04

also kind of compare that to the

25:06

latest stay at the are pushes the

25:08

B Y de Blade cel I wish

25:10

be by the eyes of the electorate

25:12

Beatles each by the Uk today he

25:14

deal street through the school charge to

25:16

the surface temperature doesn't even reached sixty

25:18

degree see no gas new fire The

25:20

video that they did the compared and

25:22

in and see Jill test to a

25:24

B Y de Blade l a federal

25:26

test. About thirty nine seconds

25:28

into the video, If I remember correctly,

25:30

you will hear the sound of an

25:32

anti climax of a little drill going

25:34

through a cell phone. or actually. Getting

25:37

anywhere where that uses his new fire, this new

25:39

guy thing or anything as she stuffed animal squeaking

25:41

noise as it goes to the cell and that's

25:44

it. So. He could properly total

25:46

one of those cars with the

25:48

and far perspective perfectly safe. Your

25:51

battery chemistry continues to evolve. We're

25:53

starting to see Saudi line becoming

25:55

available intellectually because China that again

25:57

is not interested in catching fire.

26:00

And another chemistries on the horizon

26:02

that again either are non flammable

26:04

obviously reduce the odds of Fum

26:06

ability including with some new manufacturing

26:08

techniques for an M C which

26:11

make it became a bit flaky.

26:13

B Y deeply. Pushes.

26:15

His quickly scramble go into the details

26:17

of that the fleet is the ability

26:19

is facing gonna be. Something

26:22

of a of a non issue as we

26:24

move towards the board attack chemistry Only thing

26:26

they pay for far services to know how

26:28

to tackle energy People fire once in a

26:31

blue moon when it happens and those are

26:33

these are be alexander becoming quite promising the

26:35

easy far say or the the true next

26:38

next on this one of the other if

26:40

it's an interesting. Interesting

26:42

and as you progress recently to was.

26:45

Actually putting out and N N C

26:47

electric vehicle fire cracker and using less

26:49

water than you require for casual carfax.

26:52

Enemy. Didn't get it. We go back

26:54

to Two Thousand Nine and the first

26:56

cause electric cars appeared on the market

26:58

for consumers. This is not a long

27:00

time in the in the annals of

27:02

the auto industry and we've we've made

27:05

huge huge progress that seven when and

27:07

how far is the solid state battery

27:09

away. So there's always think Basher

27:11

there's there's quite a few companies working

27:13

on those and actually there's a few

27:15

that has kind of sneakily made their

27:17

way into production. So the so called

27:20

Sandy solid state of the like the

27:22

he does well she's kind of feel

27:24

compromise and away but still as some

27:26

useful feature. So the Mercedes Electric Bendy

27:28

bus which is available and continental Europe

27:30

there is an optional long range battery

27:33

for she said he saw the state

27:35

but it takes longer to charge. Not

27:37

discuss is higher capacity but the see

27:39

rates the maximum power to take on

27:41

this is capacity is lower. Than.

27:44

To conventional lithium ions are

27:46

some I just filled with

27:48

the a solid state battery

27:50

that know electrolyte. It gives

27:53

longer range, know thermal runaway.

27:56

Just go through the did the area

27:58

was on the same answer. We have

28:00

a quick look at a conventional lithium

28:02

ion battery so that could go up

28:04

a benchmark. Compare with we've got a

28:06

your nose which is your negative electrode

28:08

which has a means of sorting lithium.

28:11

Normally. Graphite so carded and then you

28:13

got your positive electrode? was you sure

28:15

you're cathode and that's normally some sort

28:17

of the few metal oxide. So.

28:19

Entered Fiorella feet and that the issue

28:22

with graphite is that some is quite

28:24

both any six carbon offsets to store

28:26

one lithium. The reason he can't use

28:28

pure lithium is because when you pair

28:30

all of that with a liquid electrolytes

28:32

innocent and a separate are just kind

28:34

of polymer. separate. Know. If

28:37

you minds are not inclined to plead

28:39

evenly back onto the auto So they

28:41

create this kind of mountain range which

28:43

ends up treating look branch like drugs

28:45

contained race of pure lithium muscle which

28:47

eventually puncture that little fuzzy polymer separate

28:49

or touch the other electronics. the the

28:52

cost of electrodes and that reason internal

28:54

short circuit been to sell very quickly

28:56

discharges is even if you disconnect the

28:58

call or from where is our it

29:00

as it just keeps up. And

29:02

to fetch gases and catch fire,

29:04

Sasha, or to touch her standing

29:06

against. It's so if you replace the

29:09

liquid electrolyte and the polymer separate or

29:11

with a solid electrolyte, you vastly reduced

29:13

the also that they drive growth and

29:16

it means that you to remove the

29:18

grossly. And. Some of these configurations anyway

29:20

and you can use pure lithium means that

29:22

all the negative electrode all of the and

29:25

is taking place in not really should you

29:27

know the it was actually storing energy rather

29:29

than sort of the stuff the stores energy.

29:31

Still, You vastly improved the energy

29:33

density the American friends and energy

29:35

the to squeeze in to a

29:37

particular volume which is very important

29:40

for alleged towards the limited space

29:42

the streets. So yeah that's the

29:44

advantage of a solid state. And

29:46

as you rightly points out and.

29:48

The. Also that catching fire or greatly

29:50

reduced because you remove the flammable liquid

29:52

and you've replaced it with the soul

29:54

is which in some verses is a

29:57

ceramic so. You know not,

29:59

particularly. In place. They are but you

30:01

know they are still a while away

30:03

from that can of dream. Ultimate saw

30:05

the state cel being reality. There are

30:07

lots of companies are working very hard

30:09

on this of the great progress. the

30:12

Navy blue solutions you gotta essential the

30:14

state one is available and Mercedes bosses

30:16

they are rumors to the trying to

30:18

the faster charging-and for electric cars and

30:20

has also the like records indicate which

30:22

is kind of synonymous with Solar Safe

30:24

Africa well as an affinity for the

30:27

progress of their soul the say self

30:29

a kick occasionally. The stock market

30:31

get statistics by the pace of that progress

30:33

and otherwise they don't think a fast enough.

30:35

But from Electric and Co perspective, trust me

30:37

you want to get this right. They are

30:39

meeting solid progress no pun intended to the

30:42

lose of other startups are there and thirty

30:44

treaties companies you are and. And. Working

30:46

on this you pretty much all that excel

30:48

manufacturers to pick household name slice a household.

30:50

if you already have you tried our household

30:53

names your they They've got their own soul

30:55

estate development programs or have investments in the

30:57

likes of Won't escape the start of the

30:59

are developing solid state. So it's yeah late

31:02

twenties when he's a record before we seasoning

31:04

he beat on the roads. But.

31:06

It's very important that we do this better

31:08

research and development because we've come so far

31:10

and we can go even further and here

31:13

in the Uk and I'm a real. Advocate.

31:16

Of this we got this fabulous

31:18

triumphalist affect. The accident happened we

31:20

with an excuse me for it

31:22

manufacturing route Uk be fair, the

31:24

institution you work to Wmc didn't

31:26

you always And the the Electric

31:28

car has spawned all this research

31:30

and development is billions and billions

31:32

of dollars and pounds going into

31:34

battery research and we've got as

31:36

a country to really promote that

31:38

haven't When we have those skills

31:40

and expertise if you know it's

31:42

just try and tell her listeners

31:44

why that's so important. For

31:46

the general unit automotive industry and and and

31:49

and the general kind of move of technology

31:51

that the that we have to invest in

31:53

the sovereign day what we do. and I

31:55

think it's fair to say that we're doing

31:58

quite a good job of it. Sing

32:00

it up! really early stage of research to develop

32:02

you mentioned W N G and I can tell

32:04

you know that that is just. Really

32:07

want a subsidy for any kind of electrical

32:09

mysticism oozing facility with all the toys you

32:11

could play with as they can even test

32:14

things to description. and yeah they they the

32:16

got everything to possibly want. Others is actually

32:18

that can rebel faction This be say out

32:20

crossroads a college or university. This to be

32:23

crystal clear as well and but this was

32:25

many academic research groups across the Uk coming

32:27

up with amazing U Cel chemistry coming up.

32:30

With a native new modeling for

32:32

bashing on his insistence on also

32:34

says that kind of an. Ecosystem

32:36

This is a lot of to work

32:38

on electric motor suits. This is valuable.

32:41

But. What we need to be doing

32:43

that? Investing in his those companies who

32:45

spin out from those research groups and

32:48

we set up and and try to

32:50

make this at a mass produced scale

32:52

on the scene. Seen anything what the

32:54

Uk is brilliant, the research but rubbish

32:57

at commercialization. We have the engineering talent

32:59

for the management and the lack of

33:01

willingness of investors has led to such

33:03

as seems to be either. If you

33:06

have an amazing new idea and you

33:08

won't see fifty two hundred thousand pounds

33:10

to prove it. A tiny little

33:12

lump scale. The most investors willing to give

33:15

you that money have you got were established

33:17

proven and you want few a few hundred

33:19

million or maybe a billion or to to

33:21

build a geek is actually the money is

33:24

there. From. Various investors and and

33:26

potentially from different support is that fit in

33:28

the middle for your the start off as

33:30

proof to think a tiny little less skill

33:32

and you don't want to build up to

33:34

the see where he confessed that a real

33:36

will still making are a fool elected equal

33:38

to the cheapest. This amazing

33:41

you chemistry that you've developed. For example, a

33:43

you're looking for say five to ten million.

33:46

There's. No investment there. Despite

33:48

the fact that we know that the

33:50

reversers who are willing to invest hundreds

33:52

of millions or billions, those investors Mike,

33:54

my plea to you is. If

33:57

you don't saw invest in the kind of funny

33:59

to ten. Liam and the start ups.

34:01

He will run out of the one

34:03

hundred million civilian companies to invest in.

34:06

Because. Every the people if

34:08

either of those companies. The. Women on

34:11

Design that the fighters and million stated I

34:13

would see not have the Caucasus with think

34:15

was at a meeting. Lithium sulfur battery super

34:17

lightweight. Never in the middle of building a

34:19

scale of facility in Brazil that this could

34:21

be building packs for electric buses, trucks and

34:24

when they run at a financial runway was

34:26

seen it happen without the power. Just recently

34:28

they were working on a cod I sell

34:30

a good idea that a couple of other

34:32

chemistries with we're working on to add that

34:35

has has fallen by the wayside. that was

34:37

the Uk first ever actually factory but some.

34:40

Good news is that no good to

34:42

be making sold estate sales from. He

34:44

just starts out as a week. we

34:46

could easily be that the so many

34:49

exciting use hey possibly sort of who

34:51

would see amazing work with the investment

34:53

and we absolutely need to be doing

34:55

that because otherwise we will to use

34:58

that same forces as a single issue

35:00

monopoly be benefiting directly and that's choose

35:02

for the automotive industry because if we

35:05

have to import everything from overseas men

35:07

that shoes job losses as huge economic

35:09

drain. Bearing in mind that we

35:11

once upon a time got a massive

35:13

automotive para and when it comes to

35:15

nice high performance vehicles, etc, we still

35:17

are. And Formula One formerly

35:20

for example as well but he had

35:22

a week is absolutely be doing mainstream

35:24

electric automotive and that's where the likes

35:26

of the Pasta I protested. Factories River

35:28

Somerset, the expansion of Nyssa Sunderland actually

35:31

get is actually the you the ill

35:33

fated the British For sites and hopefully

35:35

that will end up with their company

35:37

ownership to believe a little into a

35:39

gig. Factories: These are all important because

35:42

I can tell you know the even

35:44

if we end up oversupply the number

35:46

of cells with we end up producing.

35:49

The. If you have a look at

35:51

us and he you and their own

35:53

legislation about it's diversifying the supply chains

35:55

way for China. So true we could

35:57

sell everything we make an eye on

35:59

it. Absolutely fit into any kind

36:01

of investors apologies is listening you

36:03

and is absolutely making a very

36:05

very very good point that would

36:07

really do need to develop our

36:10

battery skills, make them at scale

36:12

and in a protect the auto

36:14

industry and create this this this

36:16

hugely important to public health and

36:18

energy transition and ultimately you know

36:20

that that the lessons we learned

36:22

from for batteries in the these

36:24

we can transport to static get

36:26

your stories which will eventually in

36:28

a power at not. Is towns

36:30

but hopefully all cities and and and

36:32

and balance the great and and and

36:35

store all that renewable energy that we're

36:37

We're we're doing such a good job

36:39

in creating very briefly before before we

36:42

run as time went on. a this

36:44

is a difficult subject so we must

36:46

be swapped. Not making it too complicated

36:49

tell you about is sort of decoupling

36:51

gas from electricity because we're not seeing

36:53

that that that that's cheap cost of

36:55

renewables reflected in our bills you York

36:58

where expert on this. Oh. Yeah,

37:01

yeah, well I mean I have avatar

37:03

down to like Supreme Cooper formerly of

37:05

National Grace when it comes to these

37:07

matters, but from from was doing in

37:10

terms of Muslim sects and patently obvious

37:12

that we could actually condone hour energy

37:14

bills without any subsidies whatsoever answers to

37:16

be an entirely a kind of reform

37:19

of the L existing market in a

37:21

way that benefits everybody's miser. Important, Well,

37:23

obviously you'll know that the price of

37:26

your own electricity bills at home. Any

37:28

one is listening and they are. You

37:30

to see times the price

37:33

they were before prison invaded

37:35

Ukraine. Etc and and

37:37

of like a post put covered as

37:39

well as the price of gas shot

37:41

through the roof and that has taken

37:43

the price of electricity with it and

37:45

that's affected industry to I know for

37:47

a fact that there are actually. Pretty

37:51

big. Battery. Related projects

37:53

that potentially could happen in the Uk

37:55

for are not because people signed it

37:57

if got the money to do this.

38:00

We are worried about the price of

38:02

energy and that's this. This is genuinely

38:04

hampering industry notice taking the next and

38:06

which is of course but our industry

38:08

there are less jobs without jobs that

38:11

you can't afford To the years it

38:13

kills the I energy bills point hence

38:15

the term at the moment the way

38:17

to the wholesale electricity market works is

38:19

that various different generally source whether that's

38:21

wind, solar, hydro, coal dust, nuclear recession,

38:24

And the old days a half Early

38:26

windows to meet the demand is a

38:29

great this forecast for that type of

38:31

this the Paris or that the company

38:33

or degenerates or I should say that

38:35

that's the highest price. The. Such

38:38

the wholesale price that everyone else gets

38:40

paid so wind always been pretty cheap.

38:42

This funnily enough is very cheap energy

38:44

source and he clears a wee bit

38:46

more expensive ssssss are all the way

38:48

up to four used to be one

38:50

of the cheapest for is no sky

38:52

high for the recent richest nation that

38:54

just set the price that everyone else

38:56

this case with as long as is

38:58

often the good. For you and

39:00

up with a horrific wholesale price. And

39:02

it's just holding everyone's around since the

39:04

what we could be doing is the

39:06

to be splitting out the cost of

39:08

gas from the cost of electricity so

39:10

gas to be paid, whatever. He.

39:13

Runs a price. It's being paid or needs

39:15

to be. Pages know. And

39:17

then the next highest price to set the

39:19

wholesale price for everyone else. for that next

39:21

highest price would be so much cheaper. To.

39:24

Say the great was seventy percent

39:26

not gas and thirty percent gas.

39:28

Then to the. Thirty. Percent

39:30

times and extortionate. Also price for gas.

39:33

Costs. Seventy percent times

39:35

a much less extortionate rate for everyone

39:37

else. He calls you wholesale electricity prices

39:39

and that would bring down your costs

39:41

considerably. Have done an episode of Plug

39:43

Like Television it's a nice we infographics

39:45

the explains it much more clearly but

39:48

genuinely he to be looking at substantial

39:50

tens and tens of percent reduction and

39:52

the cost of electricity crisis without saying

39:54

oh, we're just not going to pay.

39:56

Guess what are these? Noble could still

39:58

do that because it's. Our gas

40:00

fired power plants. It's the oil and gas

40:03

extract because how to cheat one jot for

40:05

they're taking advantage of the wholesale market being

40:07

crazy I forgot right now so they are

40:09

laughing that way to the bank with his

40:12

record profits activities and they are lessing in

40:14

your face. See. We basically

40:16

have found a way of at least

40:18

making sure that we get the last

40:20

last by being able to reduce our

40:22

electricity. Terrorists fulfill rewarding the likes of

40:24

Fair Wind Farms and so on, forbidding

40:26

low because inevitably to be another generator,

40:29

they'll pay a little bit higher than

40:31

the cheapest wind farms between formal so

40:33

get paid that race. But.remember what electricity

40:35

prices related And Twenty Twenty Twenty Twenty

40:37

One Silver. Just like that. For.

40:39

For then I should say you know which is still good

40:41

for it's development and so on. But. It's

40:43

good for you from the affordability of your bills. it

40:45

wouldn't quite bring it back to twenty twenty twenty one

40:47

of twenty one levels, but with. Not. A

40:50

huge chunk of it still and also

40:52

because gas the cost of gas would

40:54

remain the same. If you've got ghafar

40:56

Central heating is wants yes you know

40:58

that was still save say the same

41:01

price but it would encourage and households

41:03

you can switch towards heat pump the

41:05

cetera and it would also encourage developers

41:07

to scrap just far boilers for new

41:09

developments which is just ridiculous is some

41:12

companies still doing this and actually couldn't

41:14

dream heating systems or excuse a smart

41:16

idea and of insulation to actually do

41:18

the job. He

41:21

owned a we could we could talk for

41:23

hours on this across a range of subjects.

41:25

A lot have not even begun to take

41:27

all the questions as good was key say

41:29

Look, we ran time Thank you very very

41:32

much indeed. I'm. Just. To recap,

41:34

you know batteries are not degrading.

41:36

They can last up to three

41:38

hundred thousand miles. Batteries are a

41:40

much less likely to catch fire

41:42

than than than combustion cause an

41:44

and we need to reform the

41:46

electricity system for the benefits to

41:49

the economy, to business and to

41:51

public health so looks. I'm just

41:53

tell us how how people can

41:55

can understand more and and and

41:57

and and learn more of your

41:59

your. Your sage advice and tell

42:01

us about Flagler television and and and how

42:03

to get in touch yes of plug my

42:06

television which sham came about because people have

42:08

really good questions were battery tech and ease

42:10

and and quite often to just when guess

42:12

in the answers to they were looking for

42:15

on panel second set of swath of here

42:17

I'm sitting with the spread of information and

42:19

not just from the left the from actually

42:21

driving these machines since two thousand and nine

42:24

So yeah put my television says oh and

42:26

you should have the fact I've just launched

42:28

an exciting new kind of rebooted. Series of

42:31

as teams up with a familiar face

42:33

to the channel Mark Taylor anchors and

42:35

brief which on some interesting kind of

42:37

technical inside geek types including an interview

42:39

with son Williams of the race he

42:41

just recently so see it compare in

42:43

comparison to me with my shaky smartphone

42:45

camera footage it's a lot better and

42:47

of lot better looking but does he

42:49

has a loads of episodes with lots

42:51

of them. Useful infographics to

42:53

explain i'm batteries work and also get

42:55

a waiter energy a T V related

42:58

matters how of the also find me

43:00

on twitter as well of course at

43:02

one affect you and and also something

43:04

spawners the back of Put My finger

43:07

the Spotlight consulting suffering with actually meeting

43:09

a team electric and to cover anything

43:11

whether it's technical, strategic or public outreach

43:14

and whether it's projects to do with

43:16

battery tech, electric vehicles, charging infrastructure or

43:18

static energy source of don't the law

43:21

school and yet as. Great. Being able

43:23

to to mix of the working week I do

43:25

miss the lab on occasion about still go. Very

43:27

good friends who work there and I'm always gets

43:29

up today on the latest developments which is great

43:31

but yeah it's great to be able to help

43:33

out as many of the exciting projects that as

43:35

a half over the last couple years and I

43:37

look forward to continuing. Okay, thank

43:39

you very much Doctor You

43:42

and Turk Britain's real expert

43:44

on batteries. Thank you. Please.

43:46

Support our stop, adding some patrons and

43:48

help us to tackle misinformation about electric

43:51

vehicles and clean energy. Thank you

43:53

was always for listening. You'll find any of

43:55

the links we discussed in the show notes

43:57

and if you enjoyed this episode hearing will.

44:00

The entries from Britain's Best

44:02

Battery Chemist, you please do

44:04

subscribe or share with others.

44:07

If you'd like to find

44:09

out more about Stop Burning

44:11

Stuff for help fund our

44:14

fact sharing mission, you can

44:16

do so at patriot.com/stop Burning

44:19

Stuff. Thank. You. For listening.

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