New Chinese Electric Vehicle Battery Could Travel 1,000 Kilometres on a Single Charge

The development of battery technology continues to be the key to the future of electric vehicles (EVs). Researchers in China now claim to have developed a next-generation battery capable of allowing an electric vehicle to travel more than 1,000 kilometres on a single charge. The technology was developed by a team of scientists from Nankai University in Tianjin. In a formal statement, the battery has even been installed on a prototype vehicle and tested for long-distance journeys. If commercially viable, this technology could represent one of the major leaps for the EV industry. By way of comparison, modern lithium‑ion batteries typically have an energy density of around 300 Wh/kg. “A battery with higher energy density can store more energy with lighter weight and smaller size,” the scientists said. In other words, electric cars could travel further without carrying a bigger or heavier battery. Although the details of the vehicle used in the tests were not disclosed in detail, several reports say the battery was used in a prototype vehicle developed by China FAW Group through its subsidiary, China Automotive New Energy Battery (CANEB). Conventional lithium-ion batteries use liquid electrolytes that are flammable. This has been one of the reasons for the fire risk in electric vehicles if damaged. By contrast, solid-state batteries use solid electrolytes that are not easily flammable. The researchers explained: “Solid electrolytes are not easily flammable and are less likely to suffer catastrophic failure.” The technology also has the potential to extend battery life by reducing dendrite formation, tiny metal structures that can cause short circuits inside a battery. The technology combines a lithium-rich manganese cathode with a hybrid solid‑state/ liquid electrolyte.