Harvard-backed 3-minute EV charger lasts 20 years I Would ultra-fast chargers become redundant?

Would fast and ultra-fast chargers soon become a thing of the past even without them being rolled out commercially as a Harvard University-backed start-up — Adden Energy — has come up with something mind blowing — a charger that can charge an electric vehicle (EV) in three minutes flat and can last for a whopping 20 years?

 

Currently, the world over, we are seeing fast charging catching up, though it is in its infant stages and ultra-fast chargers are still under research and development (R&D).

The three-minute EV charger will make
ultra-fast chargers redundant.

While fast chargers can fully charge EVs in six to eight hours, the ultra-fast ones can do so in just 30 minutes.

 

And now, if this battery sees the light of day, it would remove the charging worries of car buyers, who would want to flock for EVs even more.

 

If — at a later stage — portable charging units that can charge EVs in only a matter of minutes come up, they would remove the range worries completely.

 

Billions are being spent to make EV charging faster, and it seems that with tech upgrades happening every other day, these investments could become a basket case.

 

Adden would be getting around $5.15 million to commercialise this new battery that could pose to be a game changer in the EV space.

 

This technology has bagged a license from Harvard University’s technology development office, and a round of funding would be led by Primavera Capital Group and other participants in it will include Rhapsody Venture Partners and Mass Ventures.

 

The start-up will bring in advanced technology for batteries and has showcased a coin-cell prototype with 5,000-10,000 cycles during its lifetime. This compares to the 2,000-3,000 charging cycles that the best batteries now have.

 

Adden Energy is of the opinion that quick development of clean energy storage technology is the key.

 

With this battery pack, Adden chief executive officer (CEO) William Fitzhugh is setting sights on the one-third citizens of the US who don’t have garages.

 

“Broad adoption of EVs needs batteries that could meet diverse requirements. EVs must be able to recharge at comparable times compared to internal combustion engine (ICE)-powered vehicles. This means, the time you spend at the gas station must be the same,” he said.

If all vehicles globally are electrified, it could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by a whopping 16 per cent.

 

A professor at Harvard University, who is the scientific adviser to Adden Energy, said that electric vehicles can’t afford to remain a luxury statement — that is, being one per cent of vehicles on the road if we want to take giant steps towards clean energy.

 

He also added that if a battery lasts for three-four years, the US will not have a second-hand EV market. He called for making technology accessible to everyone.

 

Indeed, electric vehicles would become accessible to all if Adden’s three-minute EV charger is successfully rolled out commercially — and if so, it would deal a body blow to fast and ultra-fast battery manufacturers with its 20-year-long life remaining unmatched even in the long term.