Smart ships of the future: how advanced battery tech is revolutionizing maritime travel

The shipping industry has long relied on fossil fuels, contributing significantly to global pollution. With stricter environmental regulations like the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) greenhouse gas reduction strategy, the shift toward electric ships powered by lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) is now unstoppable. These battery-powered vessels promise cleaner, more efficient maritime transport—but there’s a catch: the harsh marine environment poses unique challenges for battery performance and safety.

A groundbreaking study, "State Estimation of Lithium-Ion Battery for Shipboard Applications: Key Challenges and Future Trends," dives into these challenges, exploring how temperature swings, constant vibrations, humidity, and salt spray affect battery life and efficiency. Unlike land-based batteries, shipboard LIBs face extreme conditions that accelerate aging and reduce accuracy in state monitoring—critical factors for safe and reliable voyages.

The study reveals key insights that could transform electric ship design: (1) Environmental Impact on Batteries: Temperature and vibration mainly affect cycle aging, while humidity and salt spray speed up calendar aging, reducing overall battery lifespan. (2)Advanced State Estimation Methods: The paper reviews cutting-edge techniques for monitoring State of Charge (SOC), State of Power (SOP), State of Health (SOH), and more—essential for optimizing battery performance in real-time. (3) Multi-State Joint Estimation: A hybrid approach combining data-driven and electrochemical models proves most effective in unpredictable marine conditions.

These findings aren’t just theoretical—they’re already making waves. For example, China’s all-electric "Pulong" ship, equipped with a 472.5 kWh LIB system, demonstrates the real-world potential of this research. By improving battery management systems (BMS), ships can achieve longer lifespans, better efficiency, and lower emissions.

The implications stretch far beyond today’s electric vessels:

(1) Safer, Smarter Ships: Enhanced state estimation could lead to AI-powered BMS that predict failures before they happen, preventing accidents at sea.

(2) Global Green Shipping: As battery tech improves, electric ships could replace diesel fleets, slashing maritime carbon emissions.

(3) Next-Gen Research: The study highlights three urgent challenges: improving battery pack visibility, assessing safety risks, and refining multi-state algorithms.

This research isn’t just about better batteries—it’s about reimagining the future of shipping. By tackling the unique hurdles of marine environments, scientists are paving the way for cleaner oceans and smarter ships. As the world races toward sustainability, innovations like these could make electric vessels the gold standard for global trade.

Reference

Author: Laiqiang Kong, Yingbing Luo, Sidun Fang, Tao Niu, Guanhong Chen, Lijun Yang, Ruijin Liao

Title of original paper: State estimation of lithium-ion battery for shipboard applications: Key challenges and future trends

Article link: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2773153724000446

Journal:

DOI:  10.1016/j.geits.2024.100192

Affiliations: School of Electrical Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400030, China