Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have developed a new method of recharging LFP batteries, which is used in particular in robotics. Thanks to this process, it would be possible to save recharging a 40 kWh LFP battery in just 10 minutes of charging.
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Reducing charging time and increasing range are some of the main goals of researchers and manufacturers of electric vehicles. Some advances are starting to make people talk about them, like these batteries capable of recharging in 5 minutes developed by an Israeli firm.
In the United States, researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have developed a new charging method for LFP batteries, called lithium-iron-phosphate accumulator. These batteries, regularly used in robotics, withstand high currents, which allows them both to provide power and to recharge quickly.
A promising automatic heating technology
Taking advantage of the special attributes of this battery, the academics succeeded in developing a prototype LFP battery capable of quickly rise to 60 ° C to be able to accelerate and optimize the recharging time. Once 100% is reached, the battery cools down immediately, ready for use.
This “automatic heating” technology, as the researchers call it, can considerably reduce the charging time, and fix problems with the battery preheating (impossible in cold weather for example). According to them, this method makes it possible to avoid the irregular deposition of lithium on the anode of the battery, which can cause dendrites, lithium clusters if you prefer.
Also read: Tesla – this is what the new battery pack looks like with 14% more runtime
These dendrites can grow, grow, and eventually pierce the material that separates the two compartments of a battery, causing a short circuit. It is old history with this automatic heating method. In addition, this technology does require the use of rare and expensive materials such as cobalt.
To conclude, the researchers assure that this battery could make it possible to increase the lifespan of LFP batteries, thus reducing it from 2 to 3 million km. As a reminder, American scientists are also working on a technology to make batteries 10 times faster and safer.
Source: The Engineer
