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The new patent filed by the Chinese tech company Huawei reveals development of a new solid-state EV battery which can be fully charged in only 5 mins Huawei, the Guangdong-based Chinese tech brand, has claimed to develop a new solid-state EV battery with a driving range of 3000+ km on a single charge. Furthermore, it can be fully charged in merely 5 mins. The patent filed by the company reveals that the EV battery features a nitrogen-doped sulfide electrolyte which drastically enhances the energy density to 400–500 Wh/kg—two to three times higher than current lithium-ion batteries. The ultra-fast charging ensures 0-100 percent charge in just 5 mins. Presently, the biggest hurdle in the commercialization of solid-state batteries is the stabilisation of the lithium interface and lowering down the risks of harmful side reactions. The patent filing reveals that both of these can be overcome by nitrogen doping of sulfide electrolytes.
Though industry experts state that while theoretically it might appear impressive, it is unlikely to happen in the real-world with mass-produced prototypes. These claims are based on laboratory results, claimed the experts. There are a plethora of challenges in implementing this model in real-world and mass production due to sky-high production costs. Just so you know, sulfide electrolytes are quite expensive in nature, costing around $1,400 per kWh (Around 1.20 lakh).
Furthermore, the inadequate infrastructure to support the ultra-fast charging rates is another major challenge among others. Huawei is presently not in the business of manufacturing power batteries, but the heavy investments made by the company in recent times in battery research and materials suggest that it intends to become a mainstream player in future.
One more point to notice here is that the driving range of 3000+ km on a single charge provided by Huawei is based on the CLTC (China Light-Duty Vehicle Test Cycle). On the contrary, if we consider the EPA cycle, it will come down to 2000+ km, which is still by far more than any of the mainstream EVs on sale right now in any part of the world.
Several leading global battery manufacturers such as Toyota, Samsung SDI, and CATL aim to begin commercializing solid-state batteries by 2027–2030. However, Huawei with its recent claim has took everyone by surprise and if materialised, it could change the face of the EV industry. It could entirely eliminate range anxiety and charging delays, therefore promising a brighter and bolder future of EVs.
