Electric vehicles could see their charging time reduced by five times in extreme cold conditions. A promising breakthrough relies on an innovation in lithium-ion battery design.
Scientists have significantly improved the charging speed of lithium-ion batteries at temperatures as low as 14°F (-10°C). Their method, published in Joule, combines a structural modification of the battery with an adjustment of chemical reactions during charging.
Cold weather thickens the liquid electrolyte in batteries, reducing electrical current and increasing charging times. Current solutions, such as thickening electrodes, have often worsened the problem by limiting fast-charging capabilities.
The team created ‘pathways’ in the anode by drilling holes into its graphite layers using a laser. This technique, first tested in 2020, speeds up lithium-ion movement but caused lithium deposition in cold conditions.
To prevent this…
