How has lithium changed the way we explore our world and our universe? | Euronews Tech Talks

At first glance, lithium – the least dense solid element in the periodic table – might look like a simple metal characterised by a funny soft texture. 

However, its use in lithium-ion batteries has made it a game-changer in our modern world. 

Lithium has had a clear impact in fields like transportation, particularly with the rise of the electric vehicle (EV) market. But there are other surprising areas where lithium is making waves such as space exploration.

In this episode of Euronews Tech Talks, we talk to Maitane Berecibar, head of the battery and innovation centre at the Vrije Universiteit in Brussels; Julia Poliscanova, senior director at Transport and Environment in Brussels; and Aurore Carré, head of the energy storage section at the European Space Agency (ESA) to understand the revolutionising impact of lithium on how we travel around the world and in space.

How do lithium-ion batteries work?

Lithium-ion batteries are composed of lithium-ions, namely atoms which have gained or lost one or more electrons. 

These batteries are at the core of many technological devices that define our lives, like phones, computers, EVs, and energy storage systems. 

Berecibar said that while the main components of the battery might vary depending on its application, the presence of lithium-ions and the fundamental principle behind their operation remain constant.

The battery has two sides, the anode and the cathode.

The former is a negative electrode and the latter is a positive one. When the battery is charging, the ions move towards the anode storing energy, and when the battery is discharging, the ions move towards the cathode releasing energy. 

This function makes lithium-ion batteries perfect for many applications, with one major strength: energy density. 

“The main advantage of using lithium is the energy density values that we have with this technology, meaning we can have more energy in a reduced space,” Berecibar told Euronews. 

How lithium has changed the transportation system

Lithium-ion batteries have had a significant impact on mobility.

Poliscanova says that lithium-ion batteries have made EVs, for instance, more affordable and efficient.

These batteries have granted EVs greater energy autonomy, taking up a reduced space in the car, she added.

According to data gathered from the International Energy Agency, in 2023, nearly one in five cars sold was electric, showing a large shift in transport that also has a direct impact on the environment.

“If we compare lifecycle emissions, so all the lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions of a petrol vehicle in Europe to an electric vehicle, we see that an electric vehicle has three times less greenhouse gas emissions and this includes mining,” Poliscanova said.

Lithium's role in space exploration

In addition to changing the way we travel on Earth, lithium has also modified how we discover space. 

In this field, lithium plays a pivotal role both as a key material in the construction of spacecraft and as an essential component in lithium-ion batteries, which power energy storage systems.

“We use lithium as a battery component because thanks to the energy density and reliability of its component, it has supported a big improvement in terms of performance of the battery system” Carré at the European Space Agency told Euronews. 

While in orbit, satellites depend on solar panels to generate electricity. However, they still need batteries to power the deployment of their arrays and store energy. For this reason, lithium-ion batteries charge to be ready for peak power demands. 

The first lithium-ion battery was used in 2001 in the mission Proba-1, a technology demonstration satellite, which is still in orbit today.

"What is interesting to know is that this battery is still in use in space, so much beyond the duration of the initial design," Carré told Euronews. "It was designed originally for a two-year mission and now in 2025, it's still operating in orbit," she added.

But how does the absence of gravity affect lithium-ion batteries?

Find out the answer in this episode of our podcast Euronews Tech Talks.