American university researchers develop new technology to charge electric vehicles in ten minutes

According to a study published in the latest issue of "Nature", researchers at Pennsylvania State University in the United States have developed a breakthrough technology that reduces the charging time of electric vehicle batteries to just 10 minutes. This is a shorter charging time and more A record-breaking combination between long driving miles.

Researchers say the need for smaller, faster-charging batteries is greater than ever. In August, the California Air Resources Board passed a plan to limit and eventually ban the sale of gasoline-powered vehicles in the state.

The researchers explain that if new car sales are to shift to battery-powered electric vehicles, there are two main disadvantages that need to be overcome: charging is too slow, and they are too bulky. Depending on the battery, some electric cars can take a full day to charge, while filling up at a gas station only takes a few minutes.

The new fast-charging technology works with most energy-dense batteries, opening up the possibility of shrinking EV batteries from 150 kWh to 50 kWh without giving drivers range anxiety. Smaller, faster-charging batteries will significantly reduce battery costs and the use of key raw materials such as cobalt, graphite, and lithium, paving the way for mass adoption of affordable electric vehicles.

The research team developed the technology in partnership with startup EC Power. The technology relies on internal thermal modulation, an active method of temperature control required for optimal battery performance. Batteries run most efficiently when hot, but not too hot. For battery engineers, keeping batteries at just the right temperature has always been a major challenge. Historically, researchers have relied on bulky external heating and cooling systems to regulate battery temperature, which results in batteries that respond slowly and waste large amounts of energy.

The research team regulates temperature from within the battery. They designed a new battery structure that added ultra-thin nickel foil as a fourth component in addition to the anode, electrolyte and cathode. The nickel foil self-regulates the battery's temperature and reactivity, allowing for 10-minute fast charging on virtually any electric vehicle battery.

Researchers say truly fast-charging batteries will have an immediate impact, with fast charging critical for electric vehicles to replace internal combustion cars as the mainstream.

At this stage, the range and charging of electric vehicles are indeed obstacles to their further popularity. However, the rise of electric vehicles is driving comprehensive progress in charging technology. If we stay in the previous understanding, we will not be able to imagine future technological development. This article describes one such obstacle-clearing achievement. If the cost of establishing battery replacement and charging stations and the universality of batteries from different manufacturers can be gradually solved in the future, then it is not impossible for electric vehicles to replace fuel vehicles.