Is the Humble Battery the Key to Our Low-Carbon Future?
Provided by: The Kid Should See This|Published on: July 22, 2022|Last updated: September 26, 2026
Grades: 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12
Type: Videos
Subjects: Chemistry, History, Engineering
Authors: The Kid Should See This, The Royal Society
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- This animated video explains how batteries can play a key role in a sustainable and low-carbon future.
- Students will learn about the history of the lithium-ion battery as well as the potential challenges and downsides of relying predominantly on battery power.
Teaching Materials
Positives
- The animations and tone of the video are engaging.
- It cites specific examples of the positive effects of battery power in Bihar, India, and Brooklyn, New York.
Additional Prerequisites
- Students should understand the current limitations of renewable energy sources like solar and wind.
- Students should understand why carbon dioxide emissions in the atmosphere hurt the environment.
Differentiation
- Students can explore links to related videos about batteries at the bottom of the page. The article on Norway's circular battery economy would be an especially interesting read for economics classes.
- Students can research scientists and organizations working on enhancing the battery's storage capacity, recycling options, carbon footprint, and social justice implications.
- Other resources related to these topics include this video about iron flow batteries, this video about lithium, and this video about energy storage.
This resource accentuates the role of lithium-ion batteries in powering the energy sector. Insight into how this battery could transition the world to a clean and low-carbon future is provided in this resource. The resource also provides a background for more research to enhance battery storage capacity and recycling options that are sustainable and eco-friendly. This resource is ideal for the classroom.
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
Learn about our review process →
