Blink And You Miss It: Batteries That Charge In Twenty Seconds Or Less

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MIT scientists are hoping that they are less than two years away from a device that can give batteries a fully usable recharged status in less than twenty seconds. The charging device will have a variety of uses and can possibly change the lives of those who rely on some typically slow charging battery types. In addition, it will reduce the weight and size of the batteries.

A small prototype cell charged for the MIT scientists in 10-20 seconds. The traditional battery charge time is around six full minutes. The battery is not being made with new material however, simply using the same lithium ion batteries in a different way. The scientists hope to have a commercially feasible battery within two years with a maximum time base of three years. While the initial battery and charger will be a small, home application type, future applications, including for hybrid or electric cars is possible.

The next step for the project will be electric car batteries that could be charged in less than an hour. Recharging concerns are one of the biggest hurdles to mass production of electric cars and one of the first reasons that the reluctant use to explain their refusal to converting to them. The new technology will also improve performance of hybrid cars and their batteries by making them lighter and smaller. Removing yet another hurdle to making the electric car both more feasible for more people and for making its production and sale easier is a very important step. If we can look forward to charging times that are a mere percentage of what they are now, then even more people will be likely to make the change from gas powered vehicles to hybrids or electric cars instead.

This battery technology allows the lithium ions to act differently by coating the ions with lithium pyrophosphate. Described as a glassy material, it makes the ions behave differently, including moving through their channels faster increasing the speed of both the charge and discharge. The rate at which the ions move is what dictates the speed of their use. It is the sincere hope that the MIT scientists' timeline is correct and this new charging technology is actually available in the two years that they have proposed. Lithium-ion batteries are currently the upper echelon of renewable battery types but have a slow charging time, which could stand to be greatly improved.

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