New technology could revolutionize electric cars

A research team from the Pohang University of Science and Technology in South Korea recently achieved a theoretical record in the charging time of electric cars. A new battery anode could enable charging within six minutes.

When we look at electromobility, many buyers are not yet convinced. Modern electric cars now have a range of over 400 kilometers, but charging at fast charging stations usually takes longer than half an hour. This fact is one reason why potential buyers are more likely to opt for a combustion engine.

So what would it be like if a modern electric car only took a little longer to charge than a combustion engine? What currently appears to be a vision could change in the near future. A research team led by Professor Won Bae Kim from the developed a material that shortens the charging process to six minutes.

E-cars: New record charging time through the use of manganese ferrites

The focus is on the anode of the lithium-ion batteries. The flow of electrons from anode to cathode ultimately determines how efficiently a charging process can take place. Researchers at Pohang University of Science and Technology in turn developed a new material for the anode to speed up the process.

They used nanoplatelets based on manganese ferrites. By using the material on the anode, the charging capacity of batteries increases by a factor of 1.5. Increasing the size of the anode also resulted in greater efficiency in transporting the lithium ions. A battery in electric cars could achieve a charging time of six minutes with the new material.

The durability of batteries should also benefit

In addition to the shortened charging time, Professor Kim also hopes for a better shelf life for batteries. If the manganese ferrite anode can be used in everyday practice, we could potentially see the first test vehicles with the technology soon.

If the charging time for electric cars is reduced to less than ten minutes, more and more people will probably be willing to switch to sustainable mobility.

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