Performance evaluation of metal-air batteries for sustainable agricultural equipment

Abstract

The present work proposes to carry out a performance evaluation of metal-air batteries and hence identify the best battery that can be employed to develop sustainable agricultural equipment. However, a scientific and systematic tool is required since there are several available alternatives for metal-air batteries and numerous conflicting performance measures under which the evaluations can be made. To this end, the present work employs a versatile decision-making tool known as TODIM (an acronym in Portuguese for Interactive Multi-criteria Decision Making) to appraise the available metal-air battery alternatives and select the best metal-air battery to aid in the development of sustainable agricultural equipment. A total of five alternatives have been appraised under the influence of the following five performance measures: Theoretical cell voltage (C1), Practical operation voltage (C2), Theoretical specific energy density (C3), Practical specific energy density (C4), and cost (C5). From the application of the TODIM methodology, it has been revealed that Li-air batteries are the best alternatives among the considered metal-air batteries that may be employed to develop sustainable agricultural equipment. Theoretical specific energy density has been attached to the highest importance while arriving at the appraisal results. The sensitivity analysis regarding the risk appetite reveals the robustness of the obtained appraisal results and the significance of the risk appetite of the experts while they make evaluations.