| Sep 04, 2025 |
New batteries make 12-minute charge for 800km drive a realityWhile conventional lithium-ion batteries are limited to a maximum range of 600 km, the new battery can achieve a range of 800 km on a single charge, a lifespan of over 300,000 km, and a super-fast charging time of just 12 minutes. |
| (Nanowerk News) A research team in South Korea has developed a new battery technology that could significantly extend the range and reduce the charging time of electric vehicles. The advance addresses one of the main obstacles facing next-generation lithium-metal batteries: the formation of dendrites—needle-like structures that can cause short circuits and reduce battery lifespan. |
| The breakthrough comes from a joint effort between KAIST’s Frontier Research Laboratory and LG Energy Solution. The team has created a new liquid electrolyte that suppresses dendrite growth, even under fast-charging conditions. As a result, the new battery design enables a driving range of up to 800 kilometers per charge, a lifespan of more than 300,000 kilometers, and a rapid charging time of just 12 minutes (Nature Energy, "Covariance of interphasic properties and fast chargeability of energy-dense lithium metal batteries"). |
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| Infographic on the KAIST-LGES FRL Lithium-Metal Battery Technology. (Image: KAIST) (click on image to enlarge) |
| Conventional lithium-ion batteries, widely used in today’s electric vehicles, rely on a graphite anode and typically offer a range of around 600 kilometers. Lithium-metal batteries, which replace the graphite anode with pure lithium, have a much higher theoretical energy density. But they come with a major drawback: dendrites that form during charging can pierce internal battery layers, potentially leading to overheating or failure. |
| According to the research team, dendrite formation becomes especially problematic during fast charging. Their investigation found that the issue stems from uneven cohesion at the interface between the lithium metal and the electrolyte. To fix this, they designed a new electrolyte formulation that weakens the binding strength between lithium ions and surrounding molecules. This reduces the formation of irregularities on the lithium surface and prevents dendrite growth. |
| The new electrolyte not only enables faster and safer charging but also maintains the high energy density that makes lithium-metal batteries attractive for electric vehicles. |
| Je-Young Kim, Chief Technology Officer at LG Energy Solution, emphasized the importance of the four-year partnership with KAIST. “Our collaboration is delivering real results,” he said. “We’ll keep working together to tackle technical hurdles and push forward in developing next-generation battery technologies.” |
| Professor Hee Tak Kim, who led the KAIST team, said the research offers a path forward for commercializing lithium-metal batteries in electric vehicles. “By understanding and controlling the interfacial structure, we’ve removed one of the biggest technical barriers to lithium-metal battery adoption,” he said. |
| Source: Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (Note: Content may be edited for style and length) |
