Batteries

I have always said that battery cycle efficiency was a major problem in the overall EV solution. Other is utility power efficiency. The E motor and controller usually run in the 95% efficiency range so there is not much room for major improvement. The Batteries can achieve 85 to 90 % cycle efficiency in a laboratory environment using very slow charge rates. In real life using fast charge over a wide temperature range Cycle efficiency can be below 50%. Samsung has developed a technology where they add “Graphene balls for lithium rechargeable batteries with fast charging and high volumetric energy densities” This improves all things important to Hybrid and EV vehicles. Charge rate efficiency, energy density by weigh and volume. Rumor is that Samsung will be offering these batteries on the S9 in the near future but not in the initial release. This is an improvement to a major problem area for the high cost to operate an EV off of utility electric. Till grid power becomes cheaper and cleaner EVs will not gain a major foot hold in the auto market. As more people buy them as a source of transportation not a novelty item there will be many complaints about how electric bill is larger than Gas or Diesel. these batteries may be a big step not enough to fulfill the dream of low operating cost and pollution. Small to medium size Hybrids (not plug ins) are still the general transportation solution.

A few links

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-017-01823-7

https://news.samsung.com/global/samsung-develops-battery-material-with-5x-faster-charging-speed

https://www.engadget.com/2017/11/29/samsung-graphene-ball-battery-fast-charging/

50 new battery technologies that could change EVs

https://spectra.mhi.com/the_search_...C5z7vdT65t3x6fgdx3uEFq33uJQz6FqxoCxE8QAvD_BwE