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New Revolutionary EV Battery Design Charges From 0 To 80% In 15 Minutes

University of Waterloo Researchers Unveil New Lithium-Ion Battery Design That Has 15-Minute Fast Charging And 800 Cycle Lifespan

2 min read

By Michael Phoon • November 22, 2024

In a significant advancement for electric vehicle (EV) technology, researchers at the University of Waterloo have developed a lithium-ion battery design that can charge from zero to 80% in just 15 minutes

Faster Charging & Longer Lifespan

According to the findings, the innovative design not only speeds up charging times but also extends battery longevity, enabling up to 800 charging cycles, a substantial increase over current EV batteries. As a result, this is a dramatic improvement over the current industry standard of nearly an hour at fast-charging stations.

“We need to make EVs more affordable and accessible, not just for the wealthy,” stated Professor Yverick Rangom from Waterloo’s Department of Chemical Engineering. “If we can make batteries smaller, charge faster, and last longer, we reduce the overall cost of the vehicle. That makes EVs a viable option for more people, including those who don’t have home charging stations or who live in apartments.”

Innovative Anode Design

University of Waterloo’s automated battery assembling equipment (Image: University of Waterloo)

In detail, the research team’s innovation lies in their novel approach to the battery’s anode design. Rather than developing entirely new materials, they created a method to fuse existing graphite particles together, improving electrical conductivity. This architectural modification allows lithium ions to move more quickly without the degradation or safety risks typically associated with fast charging.

Professor Michael Pope, co-lead of Waterloo’s Ontario Battery and Electrochemistry Research Centre, emphasizes the practical nature of their approach stating, “We’re not reinventing the wheel in terms of materials. We’re just finding a better way to arrange the particles and providing new functions to the binders that hold them together.”

Boosting the Used EV Market

Moreover, this focus on using existing materials means the technology could be more easily integrated into current manufacturing processes. In addition, the breakthrough could also revolutionize the second-hand EV market. With batteries capable of withstanding 800 charging cycles, potential buyers of used EVs would have greater confidence in their purchases, potentially increasing the resale value of EVs.

Next Steps: Refining Production

The research team is now focusing on optimizing the manufacturing process and testing prototypes to gauge industry interest. Rangom, who leads the Battery Workforce Challenge, backs this up stating, “It’s crucial that it can be implemented within the existing infrastructure for both battery production and charging stations.”

With this development of innovating EV battery charging technology, these findings will accelerate the transition to EVs by making them more practical and accessible for everyday buyers.

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