Posted on 10/13/2014 9:17:01 PM PDT by Ernest_at_the_Beach
The next-generation of lithium-ion batteries is really going to ensure that users get all-day, and even more battery life out of their devices. A team of researchers in Singapore have developed this improved lithium-ion battery tech, which is capable of recharging a battery to 70% in just two minutes, yes: 120 seconds.
The clinch, is that this isn't a new battery technology, but it improves on the existing technology that is used. The improvements are coming from a form of nanostructures, where instead of traditional graphite used to create the lithium-ion battery's anode, this new technology uses a cheap titanium dioxide gel, which is a similar material to that used in sunscreen, that absorbs UV rays.
The scientists have discovered a way to turn these compounds into nanostructures that super-speed the charging process, with this change making lithium-ion batteries capable of charging 20x faster, and lasting up to 20x longer. Associate Professor Chen Xiaodong of Nanyang Technological University said in a release "With our nanotechnology, electric cars would be able to increase their range dramatically with just five minutes of charging, which is on par with the time needed to pump petrol for current cars". The researchers hope to have this technology on the market within two years, which should be perfect timing for our next, next-gen smartphones and electric cars.
The real question is how do you pump that many kwhrs that fast without creating massive heat and electrical spikes?
How hot does the battery get on that 2 minute high current charge?
That was my first question when I began reading the article.
A drill driver or electric chain saw that could run a couple of days between charges. Wow
I will be able to refuel my gasoline car in 2 seconds once I install a 6-inch filler port in the car, and the gas station installs 6 inch filler hoses.
Don't be ridiculous. To get 100kWh in five minutes means delivering 1200kW. A big panel in full sun will deliver 0.2kW. That's 6,000 panels per car.
Probably with 10 or 20 thousand volts. With 20kV you would need 60 amps to deliver 1200kW for the five minute charge. Those are very dangerous voltages and currents however.
You will love my flying car!
Just as an example, can you imagine the electrical cabling required to pump this much energy that quickly into a battery? And the waste heat that is involved? The details always getcha..
...costs only 20x as much!
...
And burns 20x brighter. Always be wary of scientists doing press releases.
I just LOVE miracle battery stories. Must have seen at least two dozen in my lifetime.
...
I’ve seen hundreds of them, and not a single one lived up to the hype in the press release. Researchers doing work that leads to a marketable product tend to keep quiet.
Are you thinking of their diesel hybrid?
Audi e-Tron Quattro Diesel Hybrid Race Car Wins Le Mans 24 Hours Race
http://www.greencarreports.com/news/1085012_audi-e-tron-quattro-diesel-hybrid-race-car-wins-le-mans-24-hours-race
http://www.audi.co.uk/audi-innovation/audi-motorsport/audi-r18-etron-quattro.html
That's how researchers get money to pay for their research.
Murphy's Law is the one that says that "If anything can go wrong, it will." Moore's Law is the one that says semiconductor chip performance doubles every 18 months. However, this does not apply to batteries or solar. Many solar and battery advocates assume that progress is a given. You can go back to the 1970's and read articles that continuously promise that solar "prices will come down and performance will go up." In all those 40 plus years, solar cells efficiency has risen from 6% to 10% and that's about it. Battery improvements have been similarly slow. Lithium batteries like the ones used in cars and e-bikes are a great improvement over lead-acid, but we seem to be stuck at that level. Yet battery technology holds the promise of creating the richest man ever in the world were just a x5 to x10 improvement in lithium battery capacity ever to be made. It would truly revolutionize the world. Increasing the charging rate is helpful too, but not nearly as useful as increasing the capacity.
I’m pretty sure goldstategop meant “Moore’s Law.”
I have been told that Tesla cars use the same 18650-type batteries that are used in flashlights, just way more (obviously).
I do love 18650 batteries; I believe they are the wave of the future. I would not trade them for a Tesla though.
OK. Let’s say this battery is capable of taking a 70% charge in 5 minutes. How much voltage are you going to have to push into it, to charge up a car that fast? That’s a hell of a lot more than 220v going in. I used to know how to do the math on this, but it’s been so long I’d have too look too much stuff up. I’m pretty confident a Freeper can give us a good back of the envelope calculation for this.
...or the pill that allows you to put your head on a body that’s thinner than yours.
Let’s hope so!
CA....
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