Researchers from the University of Cambridge have developed a prototype of an electric sports car that can be charged at lightning-fast speeds. The car, equipped with new batteries, can go from 10% to 80% charge in less than five minutes, twice as fast as vehicles on the roads today.
The secret to this impressive charging speed lies in the high-energy-density batteries and charging systems developed by Nyobolt, a spin-off company from the University of Cambridge. These batteries use proprietary carbon and metal oxide anode materials, low-impedance cell design, integrated power electronics, and software controls to deliver unprecedented performance.
Nyobolt’s technology is based on over a decade of battery research conducted by scientists Clare Grey and Sai Shivareddy, who invented cutting-edge supercapacitors. The compact size of the battery pack enables energy-efficient electric vehicles that are cheaper to buy and operate while using fewer resources to manufacture.
Nyobolt plans to start low-volume production of its battery assembly within a year and ramp up to 1,000 packs by 2025. Their flexible manufacturing model allows for volumes of up to two million cells per year. Independent testing has shown that Nyobolt’s durable batteries can withstand over 4,000 rapid charge cycles or 965,000 kilometers with over 80% battery capacity retention.
The technology is currently being tested with eight other vehicle manufacturers interested in adopting it for their products. In addition to automotive applications, Nyobolt’s fast-charging technology will also be utilized in robotics.