As the world is quickly headed towards a complete EV adoption, the biggest issue for those who decide to go down this lane is the extensive amount of time that the process of charging EV batteries takes.
This is why scientists and EV manufacturers are always on the hunt for newer and better methods that can pace up this process.
Why Are Graphene Batteries So Important?
One such method that has recently received a lot of global attention is the switch to newer battery technology.
Graphene batteries have been reported to be charged in as little as 15 seconds but how far they can go is yet to be tested.
Collaboration Between Skeleton Technologies & Karlsruhe Institute Of Technology
Skeleton Technologies is an Estonia based company that has partnered with a German institute to develop a special Graphene battery which has been dubbed the SuperBattery.
Major Benefit Of Graphene Battery
The SuperBattery is a new technology that will have its charging cycles in hundreds of thousands. This state of the art battery will require just 15 seconds for being completely charged.
However, the company thinks that the SuperBattery will not replace the existing Li-ion platform and will rather supplement it.
Why Will It Not Replace The Li-Ion Technology?
This brings us to the next question that if Graphene technology is so good, why it won’t completely replace the Li-ion battery.
The main reason behind this is the fact that the technology developed for now is still in its developing stage and as a result, these batteries are not as energy-dense as Li-ion ones.
A Major Disadvantage, At least For Now
The energy density of the Graphene batteries is around 60Wh/kg which is much less when compared to a Li-ion counterpart and as EVs require a lot of power, the use of the SuperBattery is not well suited for use in EVs, at least for now.
SuperBattery In Hybrid Vehicles
The SuperBattery can however be used in Hybrid vehicles in the near future where they along with the usual Li-ion batteries and gasoline engines can power such vehicles adequately.
Graphene batteries can be very effective for extending the life of Li-ion batteries. In addition to this, they can also play a pivotal role in decreasing the temperature of the battery bank.
Can We Recycle A Graphene Battery?
A Graphene battery degrades slowly as compared to Li-ion batteries but even it when does, it is easier to recycle than Li-ion making it the better option for keeping the planet greener.
When Will Europe Get Graphene Batteries?
As Graphene batteries seem promising and with more revenue put into the field, the results of the existing Graphene batteries can likely be enhanced.
The European market is making quick progress in this segment and at the current pace of development, it is anticipated that these batteries are just 1 to 2 years away from us.
The solid-state batteries, on the other hand, are at least 4 years away whereas the Graphene supercapacitors which are likely to completely change the dynamics of the segment will be seen anywhere between 5 to 10 years.
These Graphene supercapacitors will completely revolutionize the electric vehicle segment by bringing EV charging times to an all-time low.
Final Verdict
The future belongs to the Graphene batteries as Li-ion because of its slow charging speeds won’t be able to stay in the market as a viable option within the next decade.
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