Carbon fiber battery could increase the range of EVs by 70 percent

The energy density of the battery, which was presented at Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg, Sweden, is not really impressive. The researchers have achieved a value of just under 33.4 watt hours per kilogram. This corresponds to only one third of a conventional lithium-ion battery.

However, the longevity can certainly keep up with the competition. After 1,000 charges, the energy efficiency of the design was still close to the initial value.

In addition, something completely different was also tested in the stress tests. After all, the battery is made of a carbon fiber composite. The anode is made of pristine carbon fibers. The cathode is made of carbon fibers coated with lithium iron phosphate.

Stability makes the difference

This gives the entire battery enormous strength from start to finish, which the researchers compare with the stability of similarly shaped aluminum. The carbon fiber battery not only serves to store energy, but can also be used as part of the overall structure.

This also explains the potential leap in the range of electric cars equipped with it. If enough load-bearing parts can be designed as a carbon fiber battery, the weight of the vehicle itself will at least not be increased.

Furthermore, electric cars could be built lighter overall using this principle. The same applies to smartphones and laptops. Instead of an aluminum or plastic frame, the battery would be the load-bearing element.

Admittedly: The energy density still has to increase. Even the total weight of a typical car with a combustion engine of 1,400 kilograms (3,000 lbs) would currently only result in a capacity of 47 kilowatt hours, which many EVs already exceed.