This innovative battery design could also help create ultra-thin mobile devices, which could be a significant advancement in the field as manufacturers are constantly looking for new technologies to shrink their devices.

Humanity needs innovative batteries

The shift to electric vehicles has accelerated in recent years, but fully replacing fossil fuels remains challenging, particularly in industries such as long-haul shipping and air transport where lightweight, energy-dense fuels are required.

Although traditional batteries offer an environmentally friendly alternative, they lag far behind fossil fuels in terms of energy density and weight efficiency.

Nova structured battery technology offers a solutionBy acting as a load-bearing component, it transforms from “dead load” into an integral part of the vehicle structure. This dual functionality directly increases the vehicle’s range by reducing overall weight and energy consumption.

New technology

Leif Asp, professor of materials science and computational mechanics at Caltech, led the research team that worked on the invention. The team demonstrated that carbon fibers can store electrical energy and serve as electrodes in lithium-ion batteries.

Although the energy density of the structural battery has been increased to 30 Wh/kg, which is still low compared to traditional lithium-ion batteries, it provides a significant advantage by being integrated into the vehicle structure, thus increasing efficiency without the need for maximum energy consumption. Capacity.

Asp, vehicles equipped with these structural batteries Increase range by 70% compared to modern electric cars.

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How will it work?

The battery is made up of a composite material in which carbon fibers act as both positive and negative electrodes. In previous models, the positive electrode had an aluminum core. In the latest version, the carbon fibers are coated with Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP), which further increases efficiency and durability. This design allows the carbon fibers to perform a variety of functions, including boosting, current collection, and lithium storage.

Another notable achievement of this technology is the increased rigidity of the battery, which can now withstand loads comparable to aluminum but at the same time have a much lower weight.

How can it be useful?

According to the creators of this technology, mobile phones of the near future will be as thin as credit cards, while laptops will be much lighter than their current counterparts. The key to this lies in the use of a semi-solid electrolyte, which not only reduces weight but also increases safety by reducing the risk of ignition, a critical problem in the automotive industry.

While battery output remains a topic that needs to be addressed further, this development is a significant step forward in meeting the energy needs of transportation and household appliances. With significant investment and continued research, structural batteries can play a significant role in advancing electrification in a variety of industries, particularly where lightweight and energy-efficient solutions are most needed.