Revolutionary EV Battery Patent May Charge in Minutes and Traverse a Continent | Carscoops

      Huawei has created energy-dense solid-state batteries that reportedly charge in five minutes, although many of these claims remain theoretical.

      The Chinese tech giant has introduced solid-state battery technology that could enhance the distance electric vehicles (EVs) can travel and speed up their charging times.

      These new cells reportedly boast three times the energy density of traditional lithium-ion batteries, potentially allowing for a range of 1,800 miles on a single charge.

      According to a Chinese patent application, the new battery pack may be fully recharged in just five minutes.

      Unless your daily travels involve breaking a Cannonball Run record, it’s unlikely that you'll need a 70-gallon (265-liter) fuel cell in your vehicle. Most of us don't require to cover 1,860 miles (3,000 km) in one go. However, Huawei suggests that achieving such a range in an electric vehicle could soon be a reality.

      The company asserts that its advanced battery technology could allow a mid-size EV to achieve that distance on a single charge.

      Similar to other major players in the tech and automotive industries, such as Toyota, VW, BMW, and Stellantis, Huawei has dedicated recent years to developing solid-state batteries, which many experts agree will significantly improve EV practicality. This month, Huawei submitted a Chinese patent for its solid-state battery technology featuring some ambitious claims.

      The patent indicates that the cells, which utilize nitrogen-doped sulfide electrodes to mitigate lifespan-reducing side reactions, possess an energy density of 400-500 Wh/kg, which is three times greater than that of current conventional batteries. Huawei believes this would enable a standard mid-size sedan to travel 1,860 miles on a single charge. Notably, this charge to full capacity—not just 80 percent—would take only five minutes.

      The 1,860-mile estimate is drawn from China’s overly optimistic CLTC calculations, likely translating to a more realistic 1,300 miles (2,090 km) under the EPA’s testing. While this figure is less impressive, it still represents around three times the range of the longest-range EVs expected in 2025 on a single charge.

      While this sounds extraordinary, I hold some doubts about its actual implementation, though it's not due to skepticism about Huawei’s technology. Buyers of an EV likely won’t require such extensive travel distances between charges, particularly if charging can be completed in under five minutes (although achieving this relies on adequate infrastructure, which is expected to develop). Furthermore, automakers may not be inclined to produce such vehicles, especially given the potentially high initial costs associated with them.

      Even in a future where autonomous driving is common, we will still need occasional stops for bathroom breaks and to stretch our legs to prevent DVT. Creating an EV with unnecessary long-range capability would mean producing a heavier and more expensive vehicle because batteries are inherently heavy and costly, despite Huawei’s hopes for reduced prices and weights. As noted, even with advanced cells, an EV boasting an 1,860-mile range would still require a battery pack weighing as much as a Mitsubishi Mirage.

      It’s more probable that manufacturers will leverage this technology to incorporate smaller, more affordable batteries that still provide a substantial range—perhaps around 600 miles (1,000 km)—making the cars lighter and more efficient, and ultimately less expensive to produce and purchase. When car manufacturers can create an EV that is cheaper than a gasoline vehicle, offers greater range in a single trip, and refuels rapidly, electric vehicles will start to gain significant traction, assuming the necessary infrastructure is in place.

      Toyota has already suggested that its future EVs could achieve a 750-mile (1,200 km) range, which seems sufficient to us. What do you consider the ideal range for a family-sized electric car?

      Source: Car News China