October 30, 2024 — Massachusetts-based battery innovator 24M Technologies has announced a breakthrough in electric vehicle battery technology, reportedly achieving an impressive 1,000-mile range on a single charge. According to Fast Company, this new battery leverages several existing technologies to deliver significantly longer ranges than those currently on the American market.
Founded in 2015 as an MIT spinoff, 24M Technologies designed these advanced batteries using high-energy lithium metal rather than the typical lithium-ion setup. While lithium metal has traditionally posed safety risks, the company’s proprietary separator technology addresses these issues, significantly reducing fire hazards.
In addition to enhanced energy density, the batteries incorporate a semisolid electrolyte, which lessens the need for materials like copper, aluminum, and plastic, ultimately lowering material costs and improving safety. Despite these promising advancements, 24M’s batteries have yet to undergo automaker testing. This means that widespread adoption of 1,000-mile range EVs in the U.S. is still several years away. By contrast, the Chinese market has already introduced a plug-in hybrid capable of achieving up to 1,300 miles on a single charge, and at a fraction of the cost of U.S. electric vehicles.
However, current U.S. administration policies have imposed costly tariffs on clean energy technology imports from China, potentially delaying the availability of affordable, long-range EVs for American consumers. Currently, the most affordable electric vehicle on the U.S. market is the Nissan Leaf S, priced at $29,280 but limited to a range of just 149 miles.
If a 1,000-mile range EV were to become available in the U.S., it would likely spur significant adoption, helping to improve air quality and curb climate change. “Range anxiety” — the fear that EV drivers will be stranded without a charging station — remains a barrier to EV adoption. Offering the ability to drive 1,000 miles on a single charge would help eliminate this concern, providing peace of mind for consumers and encouraging them to choose electric vehicles.
