Electric cars rely on the same lithium-ion battery technology that’s in smartphones, laptops and virtually everything electronic.
Electric cars rely on the same lithium-ion battery technology that’s in smartphones, laptops and virtually everything electronic.
But the technology has been extremely slow to improve. While electric cars can more than handle the average American’s daily commute, the average gas-powered car can still go farther on a full tank of gas, charging stations are scarce and it takes significantly longer to charge a battery than to fill a tank.
To improve charging capacity in lithium-ion batteries and increase adoption of electric cars, the industry will have to return to the basic science of how batteries wear out over time.
A multi-institute team of researchers has developed the most comprehensive view yet of lithium-ion battery electrodes, where most damage typically occurs from charging them repeatedly. Manufacturers could use this information to design batteries for your smartphone or car that are both more reliable and longer-lasting, the researchers say.
Read more at Purdue University
In-depth computational models of commercial lithium-ion battery electrodes specifically reveal where damage happens with use. Image Credit: Purdue University image/Kejie Zhao
