Researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's Idaho National Laboratory announced new advancements that could change the way the world charges their EVs. Thanks to a Machine Learning algorithm that analyzed a tranche of lithium-ion battery data, the scientists have found a means to safely (and reliably!) recharge EV batteries up to 90% in just 10 minutes. This discovery was made in late 2022, but should have far-reaching implications as the world moves away from Internal Combustion Engines and towards BEVs.
Achieving the charging goal required massive data troves to determine new methods that could quickly restore battery charges without doing significant, often irreparable damage to the battery itself. As The Washington Post explained last week, Dufek and colleagues designed an algorithm that analyzed somewhere between 20,000 and 30,000 data points from various kinds of lithium-ion batteries to determine the most efficient and safe recharging method, which they then tested on real batteries. The results created “unique charging protocols” based on the physics of what is exactly happening within batteries during charging and usage. The end goal, according to researchers, is to develop EVs that are able to “tell” charging stations how to recharge based on a vehicle’s specific battery.
As someone looking to buy an EV in 2023, I'm excited for the advancement. But, I'm going in fully knowing that the technology won't be ready for a number of years – so why delay the purchase?
