Superbatteries and How They Will Revolutionise Electric Vehicles

Edited by Amelia Gross.

Back in 2015, the United Nations introduced the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which I believe many of you have heard of. With SDG 7 focusing on Affordable and Clean Energy, scientists and engineers have been constantly researching and developing new products aligned with these goals, leading to advancements such as electric vehicles (EVs). EVs, such as Tesla and BYD, use batteries as their powertrain instead of internal combustion. Ideally, it should be the perfect solution to promote clean energy. However, there are multiple limitations to the futuristic design of electric vehicles.

Some of the most prominent limitations would be its energy storage capacity and battery thermal management. In this article, we will be looking into how superbatteries will play a big role in solving these issues.

1.0 What are Superbatteries?

Superbatteries, in short, are batteries that incorporate the characteristics of supercapacitors (Renewable Energy Magazine, 2022). It is founded by Skeleton Technologies, an energy storage developer company from Tartu, Estonia.

*Note: Supercapacitors are energy storage devices that store and release energy by means of static charge rather than the chemical reactions used in batteries. They are a type of capacitor but differ from traditional capacitors in terms of energy storage capacity.

Some of the key characteristics of a supercapacitor include:

No.	Characteristics	How will it benefit EV?
1	High Capacitance	Can store a significant amount of electrical charge.
2	Fast Charging and Discharging	Can charge and discharge rapidly, often 1-10 seconds (Battery University, 2021).  This is due to their energy storage mechanism that is based on the separation of charges at the interface of electrode materials and an electrolyte (Singhal, 2014).
3	Long Cycle Life	Can endure hundreds or thousands or even millions of charge and discharge cycles without significant degradation in performance (Battery University, 2021).
4	High Power Density	Can deliver a large amount of power in a short amount of time (Singhal, 2014)
5.	Maintenance-free	Do not suffer issues such as memory effect or chemical degradation (Kumar, 2021).

With this in mind, supercapacitors will be much more efficient compared to regular lithium batteries. However, their relatively low energy density limits their use in applications that require long-term energy storage.

Therefore, supercapacitors combined with batteries provide the best outcome as it:

1. Has high-power capabilities of supercapacitors

2. High-energy storage capacity of batteries

3. Safer than Lithium batteries

4. 100x faster charging compared to Lithium batteries
   

Figure 1.1 Comparison between composition of supercapacitor and superbattery

Figure 1.2 Power Density Graph comparing supercapacitors, superbattery and Li-ion batteries

2.0 How are they game changers for electric vehicles?

2.1 Enhanced Performance

Superbatteries will result in substantial improvements in performance metrics crucial to EVs. Their high-power capabilities enable quicker acceleration, enhancing the overall driving experience. With superior power delivery, EVs equipped with superbatteries can achieve faster speeds and more responsive acceleration, attracting performance-oriented customers.

2.2 Extended Driving Range

Addressing the largely concerned topic of limited driving range, superbatteries offer extended driving distances on a single charge. Their enhanced energy storage capacity significantly increases the range of EVs, alleviating “range anxiety” and making EVs more practical for longer journeys without frequent recharging.

2.3 Quicker Charging Time

Superbatteries facilitate rapid charging, revolutionising the charging infrastructure of EVs. With the ability to charge a significant portion of the battery in minutes rather than in hours, superbatteries are much more convenient and accessible for EV users. The capability transforms the perception of EVs by minimising downtime during charging sessions.

2.4 Environmental Impact

The use of superbatteries in EVs aligns with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 7, which is Affordable and clean energy. While there are still a large number of people who are skeptical about EVs, this technological advancement that enables longer ranges and faster charging times will definitely promote wider adoption of EVs, therefore reducing reliance on fossil fuels and contributing to a greener transportation ecosystem.

3.0 Current Limitations

3.1 Cost

Manufacturing superbatteries involves advanced materials such as Graphene, which costs as much as $109 for 25g, and intricate processes, which result in higher production costs compared to conventional battery technologies (Singhal, 2014).

3.2 Temperature Sensitivity

Superbatteries are sensitive to temperature fluctuations, affecting their performance and efficiency (Pamete, 2023). Managing the thermal properties of these batteries, especially in diverse climate conditions, still remains a concern that requires attention for practical and reliable operation.

To sum up, superbatteries signify a monumental leap in revolutionising electric vehicles (EVs), offering unparalleled benefits such as enhanced performance, extended driving ranges, and rapid charging capabilities. These superbatteries that integrate the characteristics of supercapacitors and traditional batteries promise superior acceleration, enticing performance-driven customers. Despite having challenges in terms of cost and temperature sensitivity, superbatteries stand a beacon of hope, propelling the automotive industry towards a cleaner, more efficient, and sustainable mobility solution, marking a crucial step toward a greener, electrified future.

---

References:

1. Battery University. (2022, September 20). BU-209: How does a Supercapacitor Work? https://batteryuniversity.com/article/bu-209-how-does-a-supercapacitor-work#:~:text=The%20charge%20time%20of%20a,charge%20will%20take%20extra%20time.
   

2. Electric/Hybrid - Skeleton signs agreement for fast-charging batteries - Renewable Energy Magazine, at the heart of clean energy journalism. (2023, May 8). Electric/Hybrid - Skeleton signs agreement for fast-charging batteries - Renewable Energy Magazine, at the heart of clean energy journalism. Renewable Energy Magazine, at the Heart of Clean Energy Journalism. https://www.renewableenergymagazine.com/electric_hybrid_vehicles/skeleton-signs-agreement-with-martinrea-effenco-for-20230508

3. Falter, M. (2022, October 18). SuperBattery lowers charging times 80% in EV mining trucks. News. https://eepower.com/news/superbattery-lowers-charging-times-80-in-ev-mining-trucks/#
   

4. Kumar, N., Kim, S., Lee, S. S., & Park, S. (2022). Recent Advanced Supercapacitor: a review of storage mechanisms, electrode materials, modification, and perspectives. Nanomaterials, 12(20), 3708. https://doi.org/10.3390/nano12203708
   

5. Pikkarainen, J. (2023, October 5). SuperBattery - safe, high-power energy storage for electrification. skeleton. https://www.skeletontech.com/skeleton-blog/skeletons-superbattery-safe-high-power-energy-storage-to-enable-electrification
   

6. Smil, V. (2023, March 29). Waiting for superbatteries. IEEE Spectrum. https://spectrum.ieee.org/ev-battery-2658649740
   

7. Storage - Skeleton Launches its SuperBattery and Unveils Shell as Partner - Renewable Energy Magazine, at the heart of clean energy journalism. (2022, October 12). Storage - Skeleton Launches its SuperBattery and Unveils Shell as Partner - Renewable Energy Magazine, at the heart of clean energy journalism. Renewable Energy Magazine, at the Heart of Clean Energy Journalism. https://www.renewableenergymagazine.com/storage/skeleton-launches-its-superbattery-and-unveils-shell-20221012
   

8. Superbatteries combine capacitor, battery technologies. (n.d.). Engineering.com. https://www.engineering.com/story/superbatteries-combine-capacitor-battery-technologies
   

9. Yambou, E. P., Köps, L., Kreth, F. A., Pohlmann, S., Varzi, A., Brousse, T., Balducci, A., & Presser, V. (2023). The many deaths of supercapacitors: degradation, aging, and performance fading. Advanced Energy Materials, 13(29). https://doi.org/10.1002/aenm.202301008