One of the priorities for electric mobility is to speed up battery recharging time. However, reducing the waiting time to 90 seconds would seem crazy, but it is starting to take shape after all, as a Lithium-carbon prototype has been introduced with the function of replenishing energy in just a minute and a half.
This has been made possible by Mahle Powertrain and Allotrope Energy after working together and conducting tests on a combination of supercapacitors and Lithium-ion batteries, offering twofold benefits. The first is the speed to regenerate its power, while the second is to become a 100% recyclable part.
The technology applied on this project offers an energy density of 60 Wh/Kg, which is not so overwhelming, but compensates by retaining strength over charge and discharge cycles, something that conventional Lithium-ion batteries can not afford at this time.
The shape is based on a high-speed anode and a high-speed double-layer cathode. Both elements are separated by an organic electrolyte. Such a structure and way of operating does not allow thermal degradation over time, freeing engineers to claim that a high-current supply can be carried out and energy subsequently replenished without running an external and complex cooling process.
“Range anxiety is often cited as the main barrier to electric vehicle adoption, but if the battery can be recharged over the same time it takes to refuel a conventional IC engine vehicle, much of that concern disappears,” said Dr. Mike Bassett, head of research at MAHLE Powertrain.
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On the other hand, the lifespan of the Lithium-Carbon battery has been pegged at more than 100,000 cycles, authoritatively surpassing the amounts offered by those currently available on the market. Now, it should be noted that the purpose of the project was to provide power to electric motorcycles for food delivery, enabling the work of this type of vehicle without interrupting production.
Finally, the date of manufacture of the Lithium-Carbon battery is unknown, but what is certain is that the results have been totally positive, and for sure, the creators will evaluate the possibility of taking it to the next level: to apply the benefits on small, medium and large vehicles.
Written by | Ronald Ortega
