Zn–air batteries for electric vehicles

The increasingly serious environmental challenges have gradually aroused people’s interest in electric vehicles. Over the last decade, governments and automakers have collaborated on the manufacturing of electric vehicles with high performance. Cutting-edge battery technologies are pivotal for the performance of electric vehicles. Zn–air batteries are considered as potential power batteries for electric vehicles due to their high capacity. Zn–air battery researches can be classified into three categories: primary batteries, mechanically rechargeable batteries, and chemically rechargeable batteries. The majority of current studies aim at developing and improving chemically rechargeable and mechanically rechargeable Zn–air batteries. Researchers have tried to use catalytic materials design and device design for Zn–air batteries to make it possible for their applications in electric vehicles. This review will highlight the state-of-the-art in primary batteries, mechanically rechargeable batteries, and chemically rechargeable batteries, revealing the prospects of Zn–air batteries for electric vehicles.