Mileage anxiety and sporadic public charging infrastructure are not the only reasons for the relatively slow adoption of electric vehicles (EVs), as problems associated with EV batteries such as long charging times often deter consumers as well. However, an innovative battery developed by a new start-up could be the breakthrough the automotive industry needs to convince consumers that EVs are indeed superior to their fuel-consuming counterparts.

Batteries are a barrier to consumer adoption of electric vehicles

Today, potential buyers are thinking about more than just how far an electric car can travel on a single charge. Drivers want to know how quickly they can recharge their electric cars. You can fill up your car's tank in minutes. So, in an age when consumers value quick realization, many want their electric car to take no longer to charge than a petrol-powered charge.

Unfortunately, with fast charger systems, most electric cars can only be charged to a fraction of their capacity (often as much as 80%) in 20 minutes. While most EV drivers can fully charge their vehicles overnight using a home on board charger system, it's good to know that you can quickly get your EV fully charged on the go if you forget or have a problem.

However, electric car batteries that can be charged more quickly usually come with a caveat: they work for less time. Electric car batteries typically last between 500 and 3,000 charges before they need to be replaced. Faster charging batteries are usually at the lower end of that range.

Potential EV buyers who have been put off by the higher upfront price and are wondering if the advertised range is enough to keep them out of trouble may also be hesitant about the long charge times of EVs or the long-term cost of ownership inflated by the cost of frequent battery replacements. But new batteries could change that.

Added Energy's new battery technology

The new work highlights the benefits of next-generation battery technology, which could revolutionize the refueling operation of electric vehicles. Batteries can be recharged in just three minutes. But unlike conventional batteries, these new batteries can also be recharged more than 10,000 times. added claims that its batteries can last up to 20 years in an electric vehicle, compared to the standard three to six years for petrol-powered car batteries.

Unlike the standard lithium-ion batteries used in electric vehicles, Adden Energy's lithium-ion batteries are solid-state. In a lithium-ion battery, an electrolyte layer with a gel-like consistency is used to transfer ions from one end to the other. However, during this process, some ions may accumulate at one end in a structure called a dendrite. When the dendrites become large enough to reach the other end, a short circuit can occur and the cell must be replaced.

Adden uses a solid electrolyte layer that both increases the rate of ion transport and slows the formation of dendrites. This approach does not solve all the problems that exist with solid-state batteries: thermal management, material durability, and ion flow regulation. However, Adden appears to have overcome these problems with other engineering innovations that the company has not yet fully disclosed.

Are electric vehicle batteries the only challenge?

While Adden is still bringing its batteries to market, this is a promising step towards greater adoption of electric vehicles. However, this is not the only challenge that must be addressed. Many consumers are still worried about mileage anxiety, despite all the headlines about new investments in public charging infrastructure. The truth is that it takes a while for a charging post to come online and longer for consumers to realize that there are already enough charging posts on the grid in their area to quell their fears.

Even those prepared to take a chance, whether familiar with the brand or not, may find it difficult to find the right electric car charger on the lot. Cars have long been dependent on semiconductors, and electric cars are even more so. Automakers are still grappling with a global chip shortage and other supply chain issues that have made it difficult for many automakers to meet demand. So while consumer demand for electric vehicles is starting to accelerate, we still have a long way to go before they become the dominant vehicles on our roads.