[Science World] Fully Charged in Minutes... Electric Car Running 800km

Recently, the popularity of electric vehicles (EVs) has been waning. Many perceive them as less convenient to use than expected and too expensive, leading to a decline in sales. Internal combustion engine vehicles take only a few minutes to refuel fully, and once filled, they typically can travel 600 to 800 km, sometimes over 1000 km. In contrast, even the fastest EV charging takes at least 30 minutes, and longer charging times can extend to several hours. Moreover, the driving range is generally around 400 km at best, making EVs significantly less convenient.

So, how can battery performance be significantly improved? First, let's look at technologies that increase battery capacity. Currently, the technology to produce the battery’s “cathode material” is especially noteworthy. The most prominent material is “nickel.” The cathode material widely used in EVs today is the NCM (Nickel-Cobalt-Manganese) alloy. This method mixes three metals to create the cathode material. Among NCM batteries, those with the highest possible nickel content are called “high-nickel batteries.” As the nickel ratio increases, battery performance and capacity improve. However, higher nickel content also raises the risk of unintended chemical reactions with lithium ions. Controlling these reactions while increasing nickel content is the current challenge for EV battery developers. Recently, EVs capable of traveling over 500 km have started to appear, most of which use high-nickel batteries. Additionally, NCMA batteries, which add aluminum (A) to NCM batteries, have been developed. These offer greatly enhanced safety and allow nickel content to exceed 90%. This advancement is expected to lead to EVs with driving ranges well beyond 600 km.

What about the next step: “ultra-fast charging” batteries? This may be an even more critical issue than increasing charging capacity. In fact, charging speed could be increased immediately by simply raising the voltage, which would proportionally speed up charging. The problem is that this compromises safety. Batteries contain a liquid called electrolyte inside. When exposed to high voltage or strong impact, the separator that divides battery sections can be damaged, causing the cathode, anode, and electrolyte to mix. This generates intense heat, which can lead to fires. The inability to dramatically increase charging speed is largely due to the risk of fire.

Because of this, all-solid-state batteries are highly anticipated. These batteries use solid materials for all components, including the electrolyte. Using this type of battery eliminates the risk of fire caused by electrolyte leakage. In other words, it becomes possible to fully charge the battery to nearly 100% within minutes?comparable to the time it takes to refuel a gasoline vehicle at a gas station.

So, when will practical use be possible? It seems closer than expected. Looking at domestic and international research trends and commercialization plans by battery specialists, EV batteries that combine high-nickel cathode technology and all-solid-state technology are expected to be commercialized within a few years, likely by the late 2020s. While infrastructure development will take more time, since various EVs are already on the roads, widespread adoption is not expected to take long. The day when the “dream EV” that can travel over 800 km with just a few minutes of charging appears is not far off.

Jeon Seung-min, Science and Technology Writer

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.