Maggie
Electric vehicle enthusiasts, get ready for a game-changing breakthrough that could double the life of your car's battery!
- New charging protocol could significantly increase electric car battery lifespan.
- Research indicates pulsating current charging lessens battery deterioration.
- Potential to maintain over 80% battery capacity for over 15 years.
- This innovation may reduce the need for costly battery replacements.
The challenge of current electric vehicle batteries
Lithium-ion batteries are ubiquitous, powering everything from our smartphones to our electric vehicles (EVs). While they have become incredibly efficient, their capacity inevitably declines with each charging cycle. This is a familiar phenomenon to anyone who has used a smartphone for a few years and is an emerging concern for EV owners, especially those with older models like the original Renault Zoé or early Tesla Model S vehicles. The best batteries on the market today typically feature electrodes made of NMC532 (composed of 50% nickel, 30% manganese, and 20% cobalt) as well as graphite. These batteries offer a ‘life' expectancy, meaning they maintain satisfactory capacity—defined in one study as 80% remaining capacity—for an average of eight years.
Is there a better way to charge?
To achieve rapid recharging, EVs are usually powered by direct current (DC), in contrast to the alternating current (AC) available in our homes. But is this truly the optimal method over the long term? A new study from Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin suggests otherwise. Published in Advanced Energy Materials, this research examines how different charging protocols affect battery longevity. Part of the testing was conducted at Aalborg University using traditional DC charging methods and a novel pulsed current charging protocol. The results showed clear differences after multiple charging cycles: batteries charged via DC exhibited a thicker solid electrolyte interface at the anode—a detrimental effect on capacity. Additionally, more cracks were observed in the structure of NMC532 and graphite electrodes, further contributing to capacity loss.
How pulsated charging makes a difference
Conversely, pulsating current charging resulted in thinner anode solid electrolyte interfaces and fewer structural changes within electrode materials. \
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