Step aside, DC charging
Photo: © General Motors
Almost unfailingly, when I get to write about some crazy new battery technology, it’s a study that a group of researchers published, where they have one or two working prototypes. While these are cool and fascinating, they are also several years away from even possibly showing up in your local car dealership. So, when I heard that General Motors and one of its research partners are developing a fast-charge system that could put 180 miles’ worth of range back on a battery in the space of run to the bathroom, I was understandably intrigued and excited.
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The fast-charge system is apparently a 3-year joint project by the General and research partner Delta Americas. According to Bloomberg, the system would be capable of recharging with 180 miles of range in 10 minutes, so about 18 miles for every minute plugged in. As an added bonus, GM says that it is gearing up 20 electric cars for sale by 2023 that would be capable of rapid charging.
This would put charging times in that dreamed-of time period: about the same as filling a gas tank. If this could be spread to charging stations across the nation (like the projects currently underway in various areas), then it could unlock the possibility of practical cross-country travel in an electric vehicle or even fix the “Where am I supposed to charge this?” problem in urban areas.
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Not to mention, this would potentially give GM’s electric vehicles a huge competitive advantage over other electric carmakers. Of particular note here is Tesla and Porsche, specifically Tesla’s Supercharger network with 30-minute charging and Porsche’ upcoming Taycan electric sports car, which the brand promises will about 12.4 miles per minute in charging.
Above all, though, I’m excited because this could be in an actual, honest-to-goodness production vehicle in the near future. We even have some ideas for advertising—fellow Content Editor Caleb Cook suggested this: “They should do some sort of demo video where people’s cars are charging faster than their phones.” Hit us up, GM.
News Source: Bloomberg
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