Is the Safer Future of Batteries Made of Lithium-Ion?

Battery technology is changing. As consumers demand products that are thinner and more powerful, yet also have superior battery performance, researchers and manufacturing are developing new battery technologies, from novel materials to new power management devices. And there's also the wider consideration of energy storage around alternative and renewable energies such as solar.

But what does all of this mean for battery safety? While major headlines will tell you about exploding smartphones and electric cars that catch fire after crashes, the importance of battery safety goes deeper than that.

Ryan Franks, Business Manager, Global Energy Storage, CSA Group works to develop and execute strategies for energy storage. Ahead of his talk at Advanced Design & Manufacturing Cleveland, Franks sat down with Design News to discuss the future of battery testing and inspection and how the global market for batteries is changing.

Right now most investment is going into lithium-ion. Companies are looking to improve on the material in all areas from power efficiency all the way to product design. But does that mean it holds the future? Is lithium-ion the future for batteries and battery safety? What about the alternatives?

Watch the full interview with Ryan Franks below and for more updates be sure to follow Design News on Facebook.  

Chris Wiltz is a Senior Editor at  Design News  covering emerging technologies including AI, VR/AR, and robotics.