The Batteries Of Tomorrow Are In The Laboratories Of Today

Last night, I had dinner with a neighbor who asked why electric car sales in America are slowing down. Specifically, he was concerned about Ford’s decision to reduce its production plans for the F-150 Lightning electric pickup truck. This conversation highlighted a few key points for me. Firstly, the charging infrastructure in America is insufficient for the needs of many drivers. Secondly, the current batteries are unable to charge fast enough or provide enough range to meet the needs of mainstream drivers.

The issue lies with the batteries. As we’ve mentioned before, the batteries that will power our electric vehicles in the future do not exist yet. When they do, their impact on the electric vehicle market will be similar to how the self-starter and the automatic transmission made automobiles accessible to more drivers. Scientists at Cornell and Harvard might be developing these improved batteries as we speak.

Cornell Developing Fast Charging Batteries

A team at Cornell Engineering has developed a new lithium battery that can charge in under five minutes while maintaining stable performance over extended cycles of charging and discharging. This breakthrough could alleviate “range anxiety” experienced by drivers who worry about electric vehicles’ long-distance travel capabilities. According to Lynden Archer, the dean of Cornell Engineering, this development could reduce the cost of EVs and enable wider adoption. The team’s research paper detailing the new battery was published in the journal Joule. The lead author of the paper is Shuo Jin, a doctoral student in chemical and bio-molecular engineering.

The Cornell researchers focused on Damköhler numbers, which measure the rate at which chemical reactions occur in relation to the rate at which material is transported to the reaction site. This focus helped them pinpoint indium as a promising material for fast charging batteries, primarily because it virtually eliminates the formation of dendrites.

However, as exciting as this result is, indium is heavy and not practical. There is an opportunity for computational chemistry modeling and the use of generative AI tools to identify lightweight materials that might achieve the same fast charge rates.

Harvard Takes A Different Approach To Solid State Batteries

Researchers from the Harvard School of Engineering and Applied Sciences have developed a new lithium metal battery that can be charged and discharged at least 6,000 times — more than any other pouch battery cell — and can be recharged in a matter of minutes. Their focus, similar to the Cornell research, is on reducing or eliminating the formation of dendrites.

The Takeaway

While these developments are exciting, there is still a significant gap between laboratory research and commercial production. However, with better charging infrastructure on the horizon and advancements in battery technology, the EV revolution in America has only just begun. Keep calm and charge on.