3 ms·

Inexpensive battery charges rapidly for electric vehicles, reduces range anxiety

17 points by clouddrover 6y ago

dn3500 6y ago
How does it reduce range anxiety? Isn't that more a function of the distance between chargers than of the charging time?
- turtlebits 6y ago
  When charging to takes hours to complete (even fast charging takes more than an hour on my Bolt), you don't have the convenience to charge when whenever you want/need to. If I'm at a low charge (<50 miles) I dont drive my EV unless I set aside extra time to charge. I might as well leave it at home plugged in.
- pmontra 6y ago
  Imagine how you would use your gasoline car if you'd have to wait 8 hours for a full tank. I bet you'd be very picky about where to go and when.
kiba 6y ago
This is a press release, with little context on how their innovation compare against other upcoming technologies and how fast they could get to market. On the other hand, did anyone ever experienced range anxiety whenever their tank of gas is nearly empty?
- gcblkjaidfj 6y ago
  Just flag it. Don't bump it with comments :)
- JustSomeNobody 6y ago
  > On the other hand, did anyone ever experienced range anxiety whenever their tank of gas is nearly empty? Yes, of course.
wlesieutre 6y ago
The actual research paper on Nature Energy (not open access): https://www.nature.com/articles/s41560-020-00757-7 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41560-020-00757-7 Thermally modulated lithium iron phosphate batteries for mass-market electric vehicles The pursuit of energy density has driven electric vehicle (EV) batteries from using lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cathodes in early days to ternary layered oxides increasingly rich in nickel; however, it is impossible to forgo the LFP battery due to its unsurpassed safety, as well as its low cost and cobalt-free nature. Here we demonstrate a thermally modulated LFP battery to offer an adequate cruise range per charge that is extendable by 10 min recharge in all climates, essentially guaranteeing EVs that are free of range anxiety. Such a thermally modulated LFP battery designed to operate at a working temperature around 60 °C in any ambient condition promises to be a well-rounded powertrain for mass-market EVs. Furthermore, we reveal that the limited working time at the high temperature presents an opportunity to use graphite of low surface areas, thereby prospectively prolonging the EV lifespan to greater than two million miles.
stcredzero 6y ago
"The very fast charge allows us to downsize the battery without incurring range anxiety," said Wang. This seems to be Apple's approach with Lithium Titanate. The user has to think a lot less about charge time (5 min), and loss of performance from temperature. If Apple can't match the range numbers, then they will attack "experience."
CyberDildonics 6y ago
Any real battery advancement is extremely significant, reducing it to a vapid headline like this is a waste. That being said, this seems to be mostly about heating lithium iron phosphate batteries (which are already very common) before charging or discharging them.

17 points by clouddrover 6y ago

How does it reduce range anxiety? Isn't that more a function of the distance between chargers than of the charging time?

turtlebits 6y ago
When charging to takes hours to complete (even fast charging takes more than an hour on my Bolt), you don't have the convenience to charge when whenever you want/need to. If I'm at a low charge (<50 miles) I dont drive my EV unless I set aside extra time to charge. I might as well leave it at home plugged in.
pmontra 6y ago
Imagine how you would use your gasoline car if you'd have to wait 8 hours for a full tank. I bet you'd be very picky about where to go and when.

kiba 6y ago

This is a press release, with little context on how their innovation compare against other upcoming technologies and how fast they could get to market. On the other hand, did anyone ever experienced range anxiety whenever their tank of gas is nearly empty?

gcblkjaidfj 6y ago
Just flag it. Don't bump it with comments :)
JustSomeNobody 6y ago
> On the other hand, did anyone ever experienced range anxiety whenever their tank of gas is nearly empty? Yes, of course.

wlesieutre 6y ago

The actual research paper on Nature Energy (not open access): https://www.nature.com/articles/s41560-020-00757-7 https://www.nature.com/articles/s41560-020-00757-7 Thermally modulated lithium iron phosphate batteries for mass-market electric vehicles The pursuit of energy density has driven electric vehicle (EV) batteries from using lithium iron phosphate (LFP) cathodes in early days to ternary layered oxides increasingly rich in nickel; however, it is impossible to forgo the LFP battery due to its unsurpassed safety, as well as its low cost and cobalt-free nature. Here we demonstrate a thermally modulated LFP battery to offer an adequate cruise range per charge that is extendable by 10 min recharge in all climates, essentially guaranteeing EVs that are free of range anxiety. Such a thermally modulated LFP battery designed to operate at a working temperature around 60 °C in any ambient condition promises to be a well-rounded powertrain for mass-market EVs. Furthermore, we reveal that the limited working time at the high temperature presents an opportunity to use graphite of low surface areas, thereby prospectively prolonging the EV lifespan to greater than two million miles.

stcredzero 6y ago

"The very fast charge allows us to downsize the battery without incurring range anxiety," said Wang. This seems to be Apple's approach with Lithium Titanate. The user has to think a lot less about charge time (5 min), and loss of performance from temperature. If Apple can't match the range numbers, then they will attack "experience."

CyberDildonics 6y ago

Any real battery advancement is extremely significant, reducing it to a vapid headline like this is a waste. That being said, this seems to be mostly about heating lithium iron phosphate batteries (which are already very common) before charging or discharging them.