Archive:000/The great battery challenge: Difference between revisions

Scale used: Estimated energy storage that would be needed if all vehicles were electric. {{p2|See why|It's a compromise between two considerations:<br /><br />- On one hand, we're going to need ''more'' than just vehicle batteries if [[solar]] and [[wind]] are main power sources. We'd also need on-grid energy storage.<br /><br />- On the other hand, battery tech won't be one-size-fits-all: it's possible to have a ''mix'' of battery tech (each with different mineral profiles) that could ''together'' meet 100% of all potential demand (full green energy scenario), even when no ''individual'' battery tech (within the mix) could meet the 100% on its own (limited by mineral reserves). Also, there are ways to reduce the need for vehicle energy storage ([[public transit]] and [[walkability]]).}}.

For each mineral, divide its ''global reserves'' by <tt>scale</tt>. This gives you a reasonable limit (in <tt>grams per kWh</tt>).

For simplicity sake{{x|and due to lack of data}}, we just have to assume (for now) that any tech that stays within ''mineral'' limits{{x|as talked about above}} won't need an outrageous amount of energy or labor to produce. Manufacturing & recycling probably doesn't vary quite as much as mining does{{x|the energy & labor of mining depends heavily on which mineral is being mined, how rare it is}}.