Nyobolt Unveils EV Battery That Charges To 80% In Less Than Five Minutes

Published: Monday, July 1, 2024, 16:15 [IST]

In a significant development for the electric vehicle (EV) industry, UK start-up Nyobolt has demonstrated an EV battery that charged from 10% to 80% in just four minutes and 37 seconds. The test was conducted in a specially-built concept sports car on a track in Bedford, UK. This achievement surpasses Tesla's supercharger, which takes 15-20 minutes to charge a car battery to 80%.

Nyobolt's Supercharged EV Battery

Although the Nyobolt battery achieved a range of 120 miles after charging for four minutes, an 80% charged Tesla typically has a greater range of up to 200 miles. Dr Sai Shivareddy, co-founder of Nyobolt, expressed satisfaction with the results but admitted that the tests had been "nerve-wracking". The concept sports car faced some challenges during the two-day testing period, including issues with the cooling system and an on-site charger not made by Nyobolt.

The company claims that its battery can charge from 0 to 100 percent in six minutes at its full potential. Dr Shivareddy described the event as "a big milestone for electrification." Nyobolt plans to partner with existing car brands and expects its battery to be inside EVs "at small scale" within a year. The firm does not intend to manufacture its own vehicles.

Charging Infrastructure Still a Barrier

The powerful 350kW DC superfast chargers required by Nyobolt's battery are publicly available in the UK but not yet widespread. According to experts, eliminating "range anxiety" is crucial for increasing EV adoption.

Dr Edward Brightman, lecturer in chemical engineering at Strathclyde University, stated that "electric cars really aren't limited by the batteries anymore," emphasizing that the real barrier to EV take-up still lies in supporting infrastructure.

Nyobolt also claims that it has minimized degradation and that its battery still charges to 80% after 4,000 cycles. As the global race continues for faster-charging, more powerful, lightweight and durable batteries, this breakthrough could be a game-changer for the EV industry.