Lithium-metal batteries can charge in 12 minutes for an 800 km drive(techxplore.com)
18 pointsby PaulHoule13 hours ago2 comments
  • nharada11 hours ago
    > While conventional lithium-ion batteries are limited to a maximum range of 600 km, the new battery can achieve a range of 800 km on a single charge

    I know it's a mass-market site but this level of reporting is just insulting. Here are the actual numbers from the paper:

    > We demonstrate lithium metal batteries achieving a 5–70% state of charge (SoC) within 12 min over 350 repeated cycles at a 4C (8.4 mA cm−2) charging rate, as well as high-energy designs delivering projected energy densities of 386 Wh kg−1 reaching a 10–80% SoC within 17 min over 180 cycles.

  • NoPicklez8 hours ago
    I have very close to buying a new car an EV at that. I do worry that in the next few years we might have a new wave of battery technology that'll make me wish I'd waited.

    But you can never know.

    • ProllyInfamous8 hours ago
      I personally cannot fathom why, outside of pure performance, anybody would purchase an EV instead of a Hybrid... you get better range, it's (probably) better for the environment (mostly because the batteries can be much smaller).

      Go test drive a Toyota Crown [0] — it's 30mpg hybrid with 345hp

      For reference, I drive a 209hp Camry [51mpg+] =P

      [0] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toyota_Crown#S235

      • NoPicklez7 hours ago
        For me its simply the ride feel and the tech within the car.

        Full EV's whilst not having great highway mileage, still get excellent mileage compared to a full ICE when in and around the city. If you have a plug in hybrid, I don't really see the point in having to charge a battery and put petrol in the car.

        I don't care so much on the environmental side, however for a hybrid you still have an engine that consumes petrol, as opposed to just having a larger battery. Which is then a petrol engine, plus a transmission and clutch which require maintenance just like any other ICE.

        Lastly here in Australia a full charge only costs around $20-35 as opposed to around $80-90 for a full tank of petrol.

        • ProllyInfamous6 hours ago
          >plus a transmission and clutch which require maintenance

          None of the Toyota Hybrids have either (instead, a Pn10 [n=6,7,8] orbital gearbox [0]), but they do have the ICE maintenance requirements. Conversely, the inevitable battery replacement is much less expensive on a hybrid.

          Fun fact: the main electric rotor redlines at 17,000+ RPM

          >don't really see the point in having to charge a battery and put petrol in the car

          You can do either/and, depending upon driving style. For example, if you mostly drive locally you probably don't ever need to gas it up — but be sure to use ethanol-free fuel if so (to not gunk up fuel system).

          [0] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dHeRJdrnI8&t=5082s (p610 transaxle assembly / theory of operation)