Electric vehicles (EV) seem to be the way of the future, and thankfully what seemed to be an impossibility a decade ago is becoming an increasingly viable solution. However, in order for electric vehicles to succeed, battery technology has to advance enough to minimize the downsides of driving an electric car, namely the limited range and the time it takes for a full recharge. The good news is that battery manufacturers including Samsung SDI are pushing the limits of battery technology to new heights and as a result, Samsung SDI recently announced a new battery cell promising up to 600-kilometer range and the ability to recharge at up to 80% in just 20 minutes.
During the North American International Auto Show 2017 taking place this week in Detroit, Samsung SDI introduced a “high-energy density battery cell of the next generation” delivering up to 600km range. The company managed to achieve these results by using materials and processes “that vastly increase the resistance inside a battery cell”, and impressively enough, the new cell technology allows for recharging at up to 80% in just 20 minutes. In theory, this means that electric car drivers could achieve up to 500 kilometers range in a short 20 minutes charge, eliminating one of the biggest concerns that come along with driving an electric vehicle, namely range anxiety. Furthermore, during the same event in Detroit, Samsung SDI also took the veil off a new “integrated battery module” concept promising higher safety levels thanks to advanced electro-mechanical designs, and also delivering a lighter package with fewer components. In contrast with a conventional EV battery which can achieve a capacity of 2-3kWh using 12 cells, Samsung SDI’s new integrated battery module has over 24 cells with a capacity higher than 6-8kWh.
Samsung SDI’s high-energy density battery cell is planned to enter mass production in the year 2021. According to a Samsung SDI representative, the new technology taking advantage of fast charging capabilities, along with the integrated battery module “are the innovative technologies with full potentials that can transform the market.” By building on these new technologies, the company expects to accelerate the manufacturing and adoption of electric vehicles through a higher range, efficiency in the manufacturing process, and user convenience.