New battery technology with ultra-fast charging: VarEVolt battery charges in 18 seconds
According to Interesting Engineering, the British RML Group has developed the VarEVolt battery, a new battery technology that enables a full charge in just a few seconds. The battery recently received the Certificate of Conformity under Rule 100 of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) and so is ready for series production. According to Battery News, this development is a significant step for electromobility, as it takes fast charging of electric vehicles to a previously unattainable level.
Fast charging with a high C-rate
The VarEVolt battery achieves a charge and discharge rate of 200C, meaning the battery can be fully charged in just about 18 seconds, provided the charging infrastructure delivers the required power.
For comparison, current electric vehicles such as the Porsche Taycan have C-rates between 4 and 5, enabling charging times of 12 to 15 minutes. The high energy density combined with the fast charging capability makes the VarEVolt battery particularly interesting for high-performance and hybrid vehicles.
First applications already underway
The battery has already been installed in small series in vehicles such as the Czinger 21C hybrid hypercar. The modular design allows manufacturers to tailor the battery packs to meet specific requirements such as range, performance, or a combination of both. RML is also working on an upgrade kit to equip older hypercars such as the LaFerrari or McLaren P1 with VarEVolt batteries, making the technology attractive for existing vehicles as well.
Charging infrastructure challenges
Despite the promising technology, the widespread adoption of ultrafast charging continues to depend on the availability of high-performance charging infrastructure. Furthermore, long-term robustness and safety at such extreme charging and discharging rates must be further monitored. Nevetheless, with UNECE approval, the RML Group has overcome an important hurdle that could pave the way for wider use.
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