Echion Technologies, a Cambridgeshire-based battery specialist is set to commercialise technology that can charge electric cars in six minutes.

This has the potential to revolutionise the electric vehicle industry, allowing drivers to recharge their cars on-the-go, similar to petrol and diesel vehicles, instead of relying on home charging.

The company says it “engages with chemicals and battery cell manufacturers to integrate its materials solutions into next-generation products.”

The new technology replaces graphite in lithium batteries with a new material, although the company founder Dr Jean De La Verpilliere has not revealed what exactly.

Dr De La Verpilliere founded the company while studying for a PhD in nanoscience at the University of Cambridge. While at the university, he created a material that could replace graphite powder in lithium batteries.

“The powders are the central component of a lithium battery,” Dr De La Verpilliere told Cambridge Independent. “This is a new kind of powder which allows you to recharge in six minutes, not 45 minutes. This includes a car, so your electric car is almost as easy to charge as it is to refuel conventionally.”

He added: “The problem with the usual powders is that when you fast-charge them they can cause an explosion. With the new material – which I can’t tell you any more about – it will accept fast-charging with no safety hazard, unlike graphite.”

Currently the company is developing a scaleable method of manufacturing the powders, where 1,000 tonnes could be made “quite easily” in factories.

Echion has been in discussion with a number of OEMs, and has won a partnership with Vantage Power. Vantage develops electric and hybrid powertrains for commercial and heavy-duty vehicles.

Echion Technologies

www.echiontech.com

Michael Tyrrell Author Michael Tyrrell Digital Coordinator

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