Physics

Aerospace engineering

Automotive engineering

Nanotechnology

Key (lock)

Engineering physics

Energy storage

Endocrinology

Engineering

Power (physics)

Electric vehicle

Materials science

Lithium (medication)

Computer science

Automotive industry

Battery (electricity)

Quantum mechanics

Energy density

Computer security

Medicine

ACS Energy Letters

Lithium metal batteries have great advantages over state-of-the-art lithium ion batteries in terms of energy density and cost, which present huge opportunities for long-range and low-cost electric vehicles in the future. However, the automotive industry has critical requirements on specific characteristics of battery cells, including but not limited to cycle life, working temperature range, fast discharge–charge capability, volume change, safety, and so on. In this Focus Review, we discuss both the cell- and system-level requirements and challenges of high-energy-density lithium metal batteries for future electrical vehicle applications and highlight some recent key progress in these aspects. Our main objective is to identify key strategies on how to solve these challenges and inspire more research and development effort to accelerate the practical applications of lithium metal batteries.

Opportunities and Challenges of High-Energy Lithium Metal Batteries for Electric Vehicle Applications