"To make solar and wind power suitable for modern life would require using battery technology, which has an abysmally low energy per weight, in the range of 0.5 MJ/kg, which is roughly 1% of the energy density of oil or natural gas. Batteries are also very expensive, and so their use is primarily in areas where engines are not practical."
— nostr:npub1gdu7w6l6w65qhrdeaf6eyywepwe7v7ezqtugsrxy7hl7ypjsvxksd76nak (Principles of Economics, 2023)
Used EV batteries will find a second life here.
All batteries, regardless of materials?
I think it is in reference to the most common lithium-ion battery.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_density_Extended_Reference_Table
Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePo, or super capacitors) would skew the figures, and we've advanced upon those already.
Not by much, could be up to ~0.576 MJ/kg (160 Wh/kg):
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithium_iron_phosphate_battery
The difference in fossil fuel prices between neighboring states in the US shows the anti-human market intervention in effect. Rather than compete with higher efficiency energy, some people feel it appropriate to artificially limit supply. It just makes people more poor and does not solve the problem.
In my area, we have access to efficient electricity because of hydroelectric generators on the Columbia River. However, with the high cost and inefficiency of batteries, it still doesn't make sense to use electricity for vehicles. Batteries ultimately need to be replaced — and it's expensive! Perhaps that will change with much higher efficiency batteries, however there will need to be signifigant improvements!
