Metal-air Battery Market

Market Snapshot

Metal-air Battery Market: By Metal, Voltage, Application, Type, and Region

Market Synopsis:

Global metal air battery market is valued at USD 466 million in 2021 and is expected to attain a value of USD 1,173 million by 2028 at a CAGR of 13.2% during the forecast period, 2021–2028. The Metal-air Battery market has been in the dark for a long time due to its contact with air and hence it is always hindered by companies who failed to find out any method for this. However, the Metal-air Battery or Zinc Air Battery will be one of the most promising battery technologies that can slowly replace Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) in around 2025. This is because Metal-Air Batteries are eco-friendly and it does not contain any poisonous material such as cobalt, manganese and nickel which LIBs rely on.

Apart from this, Metal-Air Batteries comes with higher energy density compared to current LIBs that can hold a charge longer than a single day even without being recharged while also being affordable. This means it can compete with LIBs which are currently used in vaping devices, laptops, cordless tools and power tools apart from usage in electric vehicles (EVs).

Market Segmentation:

The global Metal-air Battery market is segmented on the basis of metal, voltage, type, application, and region. Based on metal, the Metal-air Battery market is divided into zinc-air, aluminum-air, lithium-air, and iron-air. In terms of voltage, the market is categorized into low, medium, and high. On the basis of type, the market is bifurcated into primary batteries and secondary/rechargeable batteries. In terms of application, the market is segregated into electric vehicles, military electronics, electronic devices, and stationary power.

Metal-Air Batteries Get Activated when Air Enters the Battery

Air enters the battery which causes the Zinc to act as an anode instead of protecting itself like other metals do. The lack of protection increases the rate of corrosion due to oxidation (loss of electrons) leading to short circuiting of battery or even creating gas or heat that can lead a fire in a sealed enclosure.

As a result, the need for metal-air batteries has been cut off in Korea where strict emission standards have been set for portable energy sources. Further, the IEC 62133 is set which mandates that no gas or toxic emissions can be released in any condition throughout its life cycle including disposal of the battery. However, metal-air batteries have not been completely pushed aside, but are being put on hold in manufacturing due to their issues with reliability and safety. Apart from that, the usage is possible only in small electronic devices where these problems are easily covered by replacement or recycling after usage compared to EVs where they are used for a long time before they have to be replaced.

Electrical Vehicles are Paving the Way for Metal-air Battery Market

Demand for metal-air batteries is on the rise in electrical vehicle (EV) applications. That’s despite lithium-ion battery technology making it cheaper, lighter and more energy dense than alternative types of rechargeable cell. But while some automakers such as Tesla Motors have decided to go all in with lithium ion, metal air batteries are an attractive option at least for early adopters who can benefit from their simplicity and lower costs compared to more complex systems. They use only oxygen, which renders them unsuitable for medical or military applications where there is a risk of explosive decompression. However, this also means they don’t require secondary containment and cooling subsystems to prevent thermal runaway; those components add weight and expense that may not be necessary in some EV applications.

Zinc Batteries are Dominating the Metal-air Battery Market

Zinc-air batteries are a new breed of battery with few limitations and can power anything from a torch for a very long time to an electric vehicle for thousands of miles before needing recharging. Zinc-air batteries have been around since the 1970s but advances in catalysts have recently made them more efficient at converting oxygen into hydroxide ions, which creates electricity during discharge. A thin zinc-oxide layer also forms on the air electrode when it is exposed to air meaning they self-heal when discharged due to oxygen flowing past the healed oxide layer back into the cell. This means that they can be without use for periods longer than regular lithium-ion batteries.

They are the only battery that can be discharged when dry – most other batteries need moisture or an ionic liquid to work.

Lithium-air cells are also able to store more energy than zinc-air cells but cannot be discharged when dry because they react with oxygen in air which interferes with their working. However, a lot of research is being done into how to stop this happening and companies such as VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland have developed a membrane that stops water getting to the cathode which would normally cause it to corrode.

Asia Pacific to Continue Leading the Global Metal-air Battery Market

With the world's population expected to increase by 35% in 2050, it is estimated that sustainable technologies will be viewed as increasingly important for the Earth. Metal-air batteries are a major segment of this market and hold huge potential for applications such as mobile phones and laptops. Demand from metal-air batteries is projected to exceed 300 MWh annually by 2022. Wherein, Asia Pacific is estimated to contribute over 30% of the total revenue share by 2022, with China and Japan being major Metal-air Battery markets. Although India has considerable demand potential for metal-air batteries, the country's slow adoption compared to China restricts its regional market penetration.

Moreover, increasing demand for smart devices will further augment the demand landscape. Metal-air batteries are widely used in wearable and laptops owing to their long shelf life and high energy density levels. For instance, a conventional lithium-ion battery can last only one week, whereas a Metal-air Battery lasts for at least six months without requiring recharging. As these batteries are recyclable, they help reduce carbon emissions across industries.

Key Players:

Some of the key players in Metal-air Battery market are Arotech Corporation (US), NantEnergy Inc. (US), PolyPlus Battery Company (US), Phinergy (Israel), Log 9 Materials (India), Fuji Pigment Co. Ltd. (Japan), Zinc8 Energy Solutions Inc. (Canada), GP Batteries International Limited (Hong Kong), Arconic Inc. (US), E-Stone Batteries B.V. (Netherlands), Energizer Holdings Inc. (US), Excellatron Solid State LLC (US), EnZinc (US), Ionomr Innovations Inc. (Canada), Minusquare (US), Iskra (Slovenia), Renata SA (Switzerland), ACTXE Limited (China), ZAF Energy Systems (US), MAL Research & Development Limited (UK), Aqua Power Systems (Japan), Phinergy Marine (Israel), RiAlAiR Ltd. (UK), Mag One Products Inc. (Canada), and e-Zn (Canada).

The Metal-air Battery is Segmented as Follows: