Geely has just announced a new self-developed battery technology that is designed to achieve 3,500 charging cycles, the equivalent of charging and driving one million kilometers (621,372 miles), with minimal degradation of battery performance.
The next generation of car batteries, called “Short Blade” because of their slimmer and shorter packaging, are designed to last 50 years, based on the assumption that a family drives 20,000 kilometers (about 12,500 miles) annually.
This significantly improves the durability of today’s electric vehicles and, as Geely puts it, increases the residual value of used electric vehicles.
The Chinese company, which also owns Volvo and a number of electric car brands, says the new Short Blade technology makes it easier to transport lithium ions between electrodes, extending battery life and improving fast-charging performance.
Tests have shown that the average charge time from 10 to 80 percent for Short Blade batteries is 17 minutes and 4 seconds, compared to 26 minutes for existing Long Blade battery packs.
In addition, Geely has proven that the new EV battery technology has strong discharge capacity and longer range in extremely cold environments than existing Long Blade options.
At ambient temperatures of -30°C, the capacity retention rate of the Long Blade battery dropped to an average of 78.96 percent, according to the company, while the new Short Blade battery’s capacity retention rate was 90.54 percent.
To ensure robustness, Geely has also introduced a so-called self-fusing technology on the electrode surfaces to prevent short circuits in the event of an accident. This means that when the battery is punctured, a layer of aluminum foil fuses with the battery membrane, forming an insulating layer that prevents short circuits and possible burns.
During testing, Geely fired a 5.8mm infantry rifle bullet at the package without any “thermal ignition events.”
The news comes after Nyobolt, a British engineering firm specialising in ultra-fast charging technology for electric vehicles, announced that its pre-production Nyobolt EV vehicle can charge its 35 kWh batteries from 10 to 80 percent in just over four and a half minutes.
The result of ten years of research led by the University of Cambridge, Nyobolt says its battery technology enables multiple fast charges without damaging the cells or compromising their overall lifespan.
A new era for EV battery technology?
Neither Geely nor Nyobolt have yet announced production timelines or costs for their respective next-generation battery technologies, although it is very likely that Geely will reserve its technology for some of its premium brands, including future models from Lotus, Volvo, Polestar and Zeekr.
As we highlighted when we announced the Nyobolt EV, the introduction of smaller, fast-charging battery packs could open the market for lighter and more fun electric sports cars.
For example, the shorter range offered by a 35 kWh battery is not as significant if the battery can be charged in less than five minutes – a time that is almost comparable to refueling conventional petrol engines.
In addition, Geely’s claims that the battery is more robust and powerful could have a massive impact on the residual value of electric vehicles, as they give customers the assurance that prices will not plummet after a few years due to market skepticism and often incorrect opinions about the performance of older batteries.
With an astonishing lifespan of one million kilometers or 621,372 miles, Short Blade battery technology easily outlasts the mechanical life of a typical car or van, meaning they can be recycled and reused.
This will massively reduce production costs for many manufacturers, reduce the strain on natural resources and greatly reduce overall carbon emissions. If this type of battery technology becomes commonplace, it will be hard to argue against the switch to electric mobility.
