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Lithium Titanate Batteries Offer Exceptional Fast Charging Capabilities

 
5,147 views Aug 30, 2009

Nano Particles of Altair Lithium Titanate

Nano Particles of Altair Lithium Titanate

In order to counter the initial affects of range anxiety, several different things must be taken into consideration.  From charging stations located at convenient mileage intervals, to marketing departments assuring would be buyers that there range numbers are indeed accurate, everything must be accounted for.

One aspect of charging that could quickly alleviate most fears of range anxiety is fast charging capabilities.  Many battery manufacturers allow the use of fast chargers on their batteries, but some do not.  The reason that fast charging is not permitted on some battery design is associated with battery warranty concerns.

If a battery manufacturer promises 10 years of life from their batteries, then they will provide a warranty for that time frame.  Fast charging, due to the strains placed on the battery, could significantly reduce the life of the battery causing failures prior to the end of the warranty period.

Current battery technology such as lithium manganese and lithium iron phosphate do not respond well to fast charging.  The technology is capable of fast charging, but it reduces the life of the battery.  The most promising technology for fast charging is lithium titanate which through testing shows little negative affects due to fast charging.

Lithium titanate battery technology is expensive at this point, but prices will drop over time.  A fast charge setup allows some batteries to be charged to 80% capacity in less than 30 minutes.  This type of charging allows buyers to stop at a grocery store, pick up a few products, nearly recharge their car to capacity and head off on their way.

Fast charging is essential to an EVs success in our fast paced country where time is money and fast is never fast enough.

Source:  Wards Auto (Login required)





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Comments (5)

  1. By jason M. Hendler Posted: 8/30/2009 6:32am PDT

    It's not fast until 5 minutes of charging gives you a 300 mile range. 1/2 of charging that gives you 80 miles is insufficient for long trips, so it does not meet the far charge criteria.
     
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  2. By  John Posted: 8/30/2009 7:14am PDT

    Great discussion of one of the biggest topics facing the electric vehicle industry today. One solution that I like is similiar to a cell phone plan EV owners pay for a subscription to electricity and batteries are swapped out on the go. The included URL has a map of all of the battery research and production facilities in the US that received 2009 Stimulus funding, have a look. Thanks again.
     
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  3. By evnow Posted: 8/30/2009 9:54am PDT

    The way you started the article, I thought this is really a breakthrough fast charging battery.
    Lithium Manganese that Nissan LEAF will use is also capable of 80% charging in 30 minutes - inspite of your claim that it will reduce the life of batteries.
    So what the big deal about Li Titanate ?
     
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  4. By Noel Park Posted: 8/31/2009 1:30pm PDT

    It's not just about the capacity of the batteries to receive the fast charge. How many amps/volts will it take to recharge these things to 80% in 30 minutes? Will public charging stations be big enough to do this, and are there safety issues with high voltage/amperage equipment in untrained hands?
     
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  5. By  Robert (Electricman) Posted: 10/27/2009 12:33am PDT

    Have 1 Car, powered by Electricity / Batteries does not mean we can go on a Driving Vacation - Just drive the Car to the local Car rental agency, and rent a Plug-In Hybrid for the long trip! That way - they get the business, you don't need to have two cars all year long, with the payments, parking, and Insurance costs, plus maintenance, car washes, etc.
    If you can drive an EV for 2-3 days before chargin it - in a commuter environment - you have all the EV Range you usually need to get the job done! Unless you are a long haul trucker, or 10-State Traveling Salesman, you prpbalbly drive less than 100 miles or even a 100 Km a day in commute mode (Yes - I personally know of exceptions to this) you could get an EV with a 300 mile range in some 2-5 years, but today - with LiFePO4 Cells coming down in cost - you could get an easy 50 - 100 miles range in an EV Conversion, and get off the Gas Treadmill!
     
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