Extra fast charge batteries planned

An EV battery that can be charged to 85% in six minutes could be made in Australia, the US and Germany.

New South Wales-based Magnis Energy Technologies says tests on the battery by partner C4V have “yielded a potential game changer for EV manufacturers”.

Both say the batteries could be produced at factories in Townsville, Queensland, and in New York by 2021, and in North Rhine Westphalia in Germany.

Under a consortium called “Imperium3 Australia”, a 15GWh manufacturing facility involving more than A$3 billion capital investment will be built in Townsville, while another under “Imperium3 New York” will be at the Huron Campus in Endicott.

C4V has been working with EV manufacturers to develop a future proof design for extra fast charge (EFC) batteries focusing on low cost and sustainable practices.

The C4V team has developed and built advanced lithium-ion battery cell technology that “significantly” improve cycling life using high voltage bio-mineralised lithium mixed metal phosphate cathode and anode material.

The latest battery test results are “very exciting and our potential partners in the automobile industry have been highly encouraged by the data produced so far,” C4V president Dr Shailesh Upreti says.

He says a demonstration to showcase EFC involves delivering a minimum 25kWh battery pack to an EV producer with EFC capabilities.

Magnis chairman Frank Poullas says fast charging is usually synonymous with batteries degrading quickly, but the results using an unoptimized cell are exciting and will further improve as the cell is optimized.

“The news is highly encouraging for the global battery industry and for every EV manufacturer,” he says.

“To be able to charge batteries within six minutes would be a game changer.”