Lignode: A Renewable Material That Could Impact Electric Vehicle Batteries

Stora Enso, a Finnish company, has invented Lignode, a wood-based carbon material that can be used in making lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles.

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Lignode offers a replacement for the fossil-based graphite that makes up about 30% of traditional lithium-ion batteries.

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China currently holds 84% of the world's natural graphite supply, making Lignode a more sustainable and accessible alternative.

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Lignode batteries have a lower impact on resources than traditional battery materials and are also very renewable.

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Lignode is made out of lignin, a natural polymer and a byproduct of the papermaking process.

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Trees make up 30% to 40% lignin, making it a potentially valuable source of income for the forestry industry.

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Lignode's structure allows the battery to be charged and discharged faster than with graphitic carbon, reducing the often high demand for charging infrastructure.

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There is no set timeline yet for launching Lignode batteries on the market, but to scale production, Stora Enso has launched a pilot plant.

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Stora Enso's Lignode batteries might have a significant impact on the sustainability of electric vehicles and the future of forestry industry.

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