Let's face it. We hate waiting for our phone's battery to charge. Even with Qualcomm's Quick Charging on most of our Android smartphones these days, the process is just not fast enough.
However, what if I told you that a researcher has found a solution to fully charge your phones in just six minutes?
Cambridge Independent
Echion Technologies, based out of Sawston, Cambridge has created advancements in the Lithium Ion battery technology that enable it to charge faster than the conventional cells. Created by Dr Jean De La Verpilliere (who is also the founder of Echion), this technology replaces the graphite on the batteries with an entirely different material. However he isn't revealing the material to the public just yet.
Dr Jean De La Verpiliere founded Echion after completing his PhD in nanoscience at the University of Cambridge, in 2017. That's also the time when he created this unique material.?
Jean said in a statement to Cambridge Independent, "The powders are the central component of a lithium battery." He further adds "This is a new kind of powder which allows you to recharge in six minutes, not 45 minutes. This includes a car, so your electric car is almost as easy to charge as it is to refuel conventionally."
While this battery tech enables faster charging speeds, it also makes sure it doesn't go 'Boom' as Lithium Ion batteries are notorious to catch fire or explode on high charging speeds.
"The problem with the usual powders is that when you fast-charge them they can cause an explosion. With the new material - which I can't tell you any more about - it will accept fast-charging with no safety hazard, unlike graphite."
Echion also plans to bring this technology to electric cars, where they feel that with this upgrade, charging the car would be as quick as refueling- A thing most electric car owners can only dream of, as of? now.?
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Echion has secured funding from Cambridge Enterprise and as of now can produce up to 1kg of powders a day, which ideally is enough for a single car battery, however, they plan on expanding this soon.
"We're working on methods to make powders which are scaleable and where 1,000 tonnes could be made quite easily in factories," says Jean. "We have a prototype now, and are moving towards commercialisation early next year. The tests have to be validated beforehand."
Echion is in talks with OEM companies for including its tech in their future products. It is also in the process of partnering with electric and hybrid vehicle manufacturer Vantage Power.