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A team of researchers at the University of Colorado has developed a new charging technology that could potentially charge a phone in 60 seconds and an electric vehicle (EV) in about 10 to 12 minutes. In a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, UC chemical engineers explain that the technology involves quickly storing energy by moving charged particles called ions through the tiny pores inside a supercapacitor.
Supercapacitors have the potential for much faster charging than conventional batteries, making them appealing for their speed. Ankur Gupta, an assistant professor of chemical and biological engineering at UC, highlighted the efficiency of making ions move more swiftly which in turn speeds up the release of energy. This rapid energy release results in faster charging times.
However, there are obstacles to implementing this new technology, especially for current EV owners. The technology would require either replacing or adding a supercapacitor to current electric batteries in vehicles. Additionally, supercapacitors provide faster charging but hold less charge compared to batteries, meaning more frequent charging would be necessary for EVs equipped with supercapacitors.
On top of this, supercapacitors have the disadvantage of leaking power when not in use. Despite these challenges, the research team believes their findings could be the missing link that leads to quicker charging of all electric devices and wider acceptance of electric vehicles in the future.
