New battery could have 15-second charging
Skeleton Technologies, a specialist in graphene-based ultra-capacitor energy storage, has partnered with the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology.
The partnership aims to complete the development of the SuperBattery, a groundbreaking graphene battery with a 15-second charging time.
This extra fast charging time coupled with charging cycles counted in hundreds of thousands make the SuperBattery a perfect solution for the three main issues affecting marine electric propulsion, slow charging times, battery degradation, and range anxiety. According to Skeleton their patented Curved Graphene carbon material, enables the high power and long lifetime of ultra-capacitors to be applied in a graphene battery.
Ultra-capacitors are increasingly emerging as the ideal complementary technology to lithium-ion batteries. They can be used to store large amounts of electrical power through quick charging that can then be released for high power applications such as engine starting or into lithium ion batteries to help sustain their original charge. Capacitor batteries have been used to power a river ferry in France in a pioneering application but now the use of graphene in the batteries will expand the applications.
Skeleton Technologies’ CEO Taavi Madiberk commented, “Cooperation between European energy storage companies is key for the EU to be a global leader in energy storage. We are delighted to have signed the SuperBattery development deal with Karlsruhe Institute of Technology and combine forces to bring to market a technology that will blow existing EV charging solutions out of the water. The SuperBattery is a game changer for the industry. Together with Li-ion batteries, they have it all: high energy and power density, long lifetime, and 15-second charging time”.
The Karlsruhe Institute for Technology is a well-known for its involvement in the development of energy storage technologies. Within the cooperation, the synergies between Skeleton and KIT will be used to bring next generation energy storage technologies such as the SuperBattery to market readiness.
The SuperBattery has already attracted a lot of attention in the transportation sector. Recently, Skeleton Technologies signed a €1bn Letter of Intent with a leading automotive OEM to bring the technology to the market.
By Dag Pike
