DIRTY GAS, HOT FLUIDS AND ZERO COBALT BATTERIES | FULLY CHARGED

EV Channels Review

This episode of Fully Charged News delves into critical developments beyond the automotive sector, focusing on energy generation and battery technology. The host highlights the UK's record-breaking wind energy production, exceeding 44% of national consumption during recent storms, and discusses the implications for wholesale energy prices, even leading to consumers being paid to use electricity. A significant portion of the episode explores advancements in geothermal energy, particularly the drilling for supercritical geothermal fluids in Italy, which offers a potential for continuous, fuel-free power generation. The discussion also critically examines the environmental impact of natural gas extraction, emphasizing methane leaks from wells and the greater harm compared to CO2. Finally, the show touches upon the future of electric vehicle batteries, with Tesla reportedly in talks to develop cobalt-free Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) batteries. While current LFP batteries have lower energy density than NCA/NMC chemistries, advancements suggest they could reach nearly 200 Wh/kg, offering a cheaper, cobalt-free alternative. The episode underscores the rapid evolution of battery technology and its decreasing costs.