Quantifying the cost effectiveness of non-aqueous potassium-ion batteries

Non-aqueous K-ion batteries currently attract intensive interest as a promising candidate for electrochemical energy storage with potentially lower cost than Li-ion batteries. In this paper, a total battery cost and annual battery cost analysis of K-ion batteries is presented, with a comparison to a lithium-ion reference battery. Our analysis shows that all models of K-ion batteries considered will have a higher total cost than the reference Li-ion battery, unless the coulombic efficiency of K-ion batteries could be made superior to existing Li-ion batteries. Therefore, in our opinion K-ion battery research should focus on increasing battery lifetime. This is probably true for all beyond-Li-ion cell chemistries.