Promising
An invention by TU Delft researchers may have major consequences for the sustainability of electric car batteries. The lifespan could possibly be twice as long.
Lithium ion batteries in electric cars, but also in smartphones and laptops, for example, could last much longer thanks to an invention by TU Delft. Researchers have ‘accidentally’ discovered something that can significantly slow down the degradation of batteries, we read The Volkskrant. The fact that a battery deteriorates is due to the decay of a ‘protective layer’ between the electrolyte and the anode and cathode. In short, the researchers discovered that this layer is effective for longer due to a new mix of five salts and that lithium ions are lost less quickly during charging and discharging. The capacity of the battery therefore deteriorates less quickly and the lifespan of the battery could possibly even be doubled.
There is still a long way to go before this invention may have an effect in the car industry. The Dutch Leyden Jar develops batteries that should be able to store 70 percent more energy than usual, but the degradation is still too high to be relevant for the car industry. That may be about to change thanks to the invention of TU Delft. The top man of Leyden Jar says in conversation with De Volkskrant that his company will now test this.
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– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl