Range anxiety is one of the main barriers to the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs), as drivers worry that their batteries will run out of power before reaching their destination or a charging station. To overcome this challenge, researchers have been developing fast-charging lithium batteries that can replenish their energy in minutes rather than hours.
One of the latest breakthroughs in this field comes from Cornell University, where engineers have created a new lithium battery that can charge in under five minutes – faster than any such battery on the market – while maintaining stable performance over extended cycles of charging and discharging . The key innovation is the use of indium, a soft metal, as the anode material. Indium has two crucial characteristics: an extremely low migration energy barrier, which sets the rate at which ions diffuse in the solid state; and a modest exchange current density, which is related to the rate at which ions are reduced in the anode. The combination of these qualities – rapid diffusion and slow surface reaction kinetics – is essential for fast charging and long-duration storage.
“If you can charge an EV battery in five minutes, I mean, gosh, you don’t need to have a battery that’s big enough for a 300-mile range. You can settle for less, which could reduce the cost of EVs, enabling wider adoption,” said Lynden Archer, professor of engineering and dean of Cornell’s College of Engineering, who oversaw the project .
Another advantage of fast-charging lithium batteries is that they can reduce the impact of cold weather on EV performance. The ongoing frigid weather in much of the country has exposed yet another Achilles heel of the EV revolution: cold weather is the kryptonite of electric vehicles . Low temperatures can reduce the battery capacity and increase the energy consumption of EVs, leading to shorter driving ranges and longer charging times. Fast-charging lithium batteries could mitigate these effects by allowing drivers to quickly top up their batteries whenever needed.
However, fast-charging lithium batteries are not without challenges. One of the main issues is the safety and durability of the batteries under high current and temperature conditions. Fast charging can cause overheating, overvoltage, and degradation of the battery materials, leading to reduced performance and increased risk of fire or explosion. To address these concerns, researchers have been developing health-aware fast-charging control methods that take into account the temperature and degradation of batteries during fast charging . These methods aim to optimize the charging speed while ensuring the safety and economic requirements of battery operations.
Fast-charging lithium batteries are a promising technology that could revolutionize the EV industry and alleviate range anxiety among drivers. However, further research and development are needed to improve the safety, reliability, and cost-effectiveness of these batteries before they can be widely deployed.