Volkswagen tech key to longer EV battery life

SOLID-STATE batteries promise to significantly improve the service life and charging times of electric vehicle battery packs, removing many of the hurdles facing the current crop of electric cars.

Case in point is a series of new-technology batteries currently being tested by Volkswagen-backed PowerCo.

Manufactured by California-based QuantumScape, the formula of the newly developed batteries is said to show few of the signs of degeneration present in current lithium-ion batteries, while at the same time providing faster charging (under 15 minutes), decreased fire risk, and “hundreds of miles” further range.

Provided to Volkswagen Group-owned PowerCo, the batteries were continuously tested over a period of months with results that “far exceeded expectations”. PowerCo says the cells retained 95 per cent of its range capacity after 1000 charging cycles, or the equivalent of approximately 485,000km.

The current industry standard for EVs targets 20 per cent capacity loss after 700 charging cycles.

“These are very encouraging results that impressively underpin the potential of the solid-state cell,” said PowerCo CEO Frank Blome.

“The final result of this development could be a battery cell that enables long ranges, can be charged super-quickly, and practically does not age.”

It is expected such technology could also lead to a marked reduction in the number of expensive battery packs sent to landfill every year. EV battery pack replacements cost tens of thousands of dollars, leaving many electric vehicles to be scrapped within a timeframe of just five to 10 years.

Range loss means most EV battery packs are warranted for just eight years. QuantumScape says their batteries will last at least 12.

According to US publication Electrek, QuantumScape’s battery technology utilised a proprietary ceramic material arranged in an ultra-dense 24-layer structure. The company has been working on the technology since 2010.

“We are not aware of any other automotive-format lithium metal battery that has shown such high discharge energy retention over a comparable cycle count under similar conditions,” said QuantumScape founder and CEO Jagdeep Singh.

Mr Singh says the technology is still some time away from being made available for mass production but the company is working closely with Volkswagen to have it ready in time for the facelifted ID.4 and ID.7 range.

“We are excited to be working closely with the Volkswagen Group and PowerCo to industrialise this technology and bring it to market as quickly as possible,” he said.

QuantumScape believes its solid-state batteries will be mass production ready by 2025.

With PC Mag and Electrek