The article leads with: "These batteries are capable of charging in as little as an hour...".
We already see that. At a 150kW DC fast charger my EV charges from 15% to 80% in 15 minutes (closer to 10 minutes with a 350kW charger, though admittedly the battery charges that fast only in the first few minutes when the charge level is low). I can charge it completely to 100% in 30-40 minutes if I'm eating dinner plate lunch or otherwise taking a break to make it worth waiting an extra 15 or 25 minutes to top out the last 20%.
The difference is no dendrites. So the battery can be fast charged every time and never lose any capacity and last 20 or 30 years or more.
“What’s the big deal here? I’m not getting it. Am I missing something?
The article leads with: “These batteries are capable of charging in as little as an hour...”. “
From the article...
“This new approach, led by University of California San Diego engineers, enables charging of lithium-metal batteries in about an hour, a speed that is competitive against today’s lithium-ion batteries.”
I guess you have lithium-ion.
So what’s the advantage of lithium metal? Higher power density? Lower cost?
The 'deal' is these batteries are Lithium-Metal batteries, not Lithium-ION batteries.
Cheaper to manufacture, last longer (recharge cycles), store more energy per unit weight (denser).................