Volvo believes it has reached such a point with the invention of a new battery and its charging technology that it will match the gasoline car that the Chinese brand wants the patent.
Volvo has filed a patent for a revolutionary battery technology that could potentially eliminate one of the biggest obstacles to electric cars: long charging times. The goal is to achieve charging speeds that match the time it takes to fill up a gasoline car.
In the patent application filed with the European Patent Office, Volvo describes a new design for battery cells. The new technology focuses on reducing heat generation during charging, which is a key factor in enabling faster charging.
Carmoses writes.
– Charging an electric car requires careful design and mitigating system selection of multiple parameters related to resistance heat loss, cooling effect, cell electrolyte temperature and possible degradation, while striving to deliver a fast charging experience that can match an internal combustion engine, Volvo writes in the patent application.
Volvo's new design differs from traditional battery cells by bending the battery's electrode tabs towards the center of the cell. This change improves electrical conductivity and reduces heat loss, enabling faster and more efficient charging.
– This facilitates electrical contact between the respective parts to improve electrical conductivity from the electrodes to the battery terminal, Volvo writes in the application.
In addition to faster charging, the technology is also expected to have other benefits, including:
- Improved electrical conductivity in the battery.
- Reduced requirements for cooling systems.
- More cost-effective battery manufacturing.
It is still unknown when or if Volvo will introduce this new battery technology in their electric cars.
– Charging an electric vehicle is fundamentally different because the process involves the movement of electrons (i.e. electricity) compared to moving stored chemical energy in the form of a flammable liquid.
– Transmission losses increase significantly when moving high current through wires because the losses are related to and scale with the electrical resistance of the wire. This phenomenon is unique to electric cars and is not found in an older car with a combustion engine, writes Volvo Cars.
To achieve fast charging that is as fast as refueling, Volvo is planning a number of improvements to the battery.
– Therefore, recharging an electric car requires careful design consideration and mitigating system selection of several parameters related to, for example, resistance heat loss, cooling effect, cell electrolyte temperature and possible degradation.
– All the while striving to deliver a fast charging experience that can match a car with an internal combustion engine, Volvo states in its patent application.
