It’s probably not worth repeating about electric car batteries that the main drawback is the long recharging time. It especially stands out when compared to refueling.
It is therefore not surprising that scientists from all over the world are trying to find a solution that reduces charging times. New technology developed by the Swiss startup Morand promises recharging electric cars in less time than refueling an internal combustion car, informuje Interesting engineering.
A minute on the charger and it turns on
It is a hybrid system that uses traditional battery and supercapacitor technologies. Supercapacitors are large capacity capacitors with much higher capacitances but lower voltage thresholds. It can be said that they bridge the gap between electrolytic capacitors and rechargeable batteries.
A supercapacitor is capable of storage ten to one hundred times more energy per unit volume or mass compared to electrolytic capacitors. In addition, it can receive and deliver energy much faster than batteries and can withstand significantly more charge and discharge cycles.
According to the American Petroleum Institute, the owner of an internal combustion engine vehicle takes an average of two minutes to refuel. A new hybrid battery system called eTechnology cuts this time nearly in half, meaning it could become a major factor driving the spread of electric cars.
Another indisputable benefit of eTechnology hybrid batteries is what they can deliver, according to Morand much longer life compared to the lithium-ion batteries used in current electric cars. The manufacturer claims to have tested the prototype on more than 50,000 cycles. Furthermore, the technology also works effectively in extreme temperatures, which is unusual for ordinary electric car batteries.
What the tests showed
During testing, a prototype of these batteries was able to charge to 80% in just 72 seconds, 98% in 120 seconds and 100% in 2.5 minutes with power ratings of up to 900A/360kW. It should be noted that the indicated times obviously do not apply to the larger batteries with a capacity of 100 kWh or more, which are used in electric cars with the longest range.
According to company founder Benoît Morand these batteries are suitable for small city cars, such as the Citroën Ami, which has a 5.5 kWh battery. This technology could also be useful for drones and e-bikes, where fast charging will allow for a quick turnaround.
Morand estimates that, for example, an electric bike with a 6,000mAh battery could be recharged in six minutes using this technology at a lower output of 3.2kW. This could dramatically increase e-bike adoption, reduce reliance on buying replacement batteries, and make e-bikes more appealing to many people.
He founded the Morand company ex formula driver 1 and team manager Benoît Morand, who played a key role in the development of the Hope Racing Oreco 01 Hybrid race car, the first ever hybrid prototype that competed in the 24 Hours of Le Mans more than a decade ago. His goal is to introduce and use the technologies developed for motor racing in everyday life.
