Skeleton Technologies and Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology) are developing a graphene battery that can be fully charged in 15 seconds. This technology is expected to win a 1 billion euro contract. It is understood that the super capacitor manufacturer Skeleton Technologies and the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology have completed the development of a super battery, which is a breakthrough graphene battery.
The fast charging time plus hundreds of thousands of charging cycles will help reduce the stress on the lithium-ion battery pack. Skeleton also plans to sign a 1 billion euro letter of intent with a leading automotive OEM to bring this technology to the market.
The key difference of this super battery is Skeleton's patented curved graphene carbon material, which can be used in super capacitors. It is said that the supercapacitor is the highest energy density on the market. By using the patented graphene material, this new series of supercapacitors has 4500 farads (capacitance units). The company claims that the closest competitor product is only 3400 farads (capacitance unit).
Why are supercapacitors so concerned by the technology circle? The reason is still its powerful performance.
Compared with lithium batteries, supercapacitors have fast charging and discharging speed, high efficiency, long cycle life and high safety. The safety performance of supercapacitors higher than that of lithium batteries has also been demonstrated in various events in recent years. IDTechEx, a market research company, put forward a bold conclusion-supercapacitors will destroy the lithium-ion battery market. IDTechEx said that by 2024, the global market value of supercapacitors will reach 6.5 billion U.S. dollars. As the market share increases, it will gradually swallow the battery market. In the past year, companies such as Boeing, Apple, and Tesla have all been trapped by the safety of lithium batteries, causing frequent incidents. Experts also pointed out that lithium batteries are "difficult to shift in nature" and it is difficult to make up for their safety shortcomings technically.
Nowadays, supercapacitors mainly play a supporting role of lithium batteries due to their low energy density shortcomings. However, due to the application of the "universal material" graphene, the pace of replacing lithium batteries with supercapacitors seems to be getting closer. As long as the energy density of supercapacitors can be raised to the same level as lithium batteries, a new era of batteries is coming. Although there are many disputes at home and abroad, no consensus has been reached. However, compared with the high degree of enthusiasm for lithium batteries in mainland China, the practice of many countries in Europe and America is more balanced.
Skeleton is at the forefront
Skeleton CEO Taavi Madiberk said: "In fact, our super battery combines the advantages of supercapacitors and batteries: high surface area curved graphene allows rapid charging and discharging, and a specially developed battery chemistry can compare to pure supercapacitors. Stores more energy reversibly." "The combination of these two technologies allows rapid charging and discharging while also increasing energy density."
"We think Skeleton is a perfect match for our purpose. Skeleton is flexible and scaled enough to develop new processes, turn our knowledge into products, and bring them to market."
British electric buses are the first to enter the commercial stage. It is reported that Skeleton Technologies and British bus group WrightsGroup Ltd signed a purchase contract with a validity period of 5 years and a value of up to millions of euros. Skeleton Technologies provides graphene-based supercapacitors for the latest KERS hybrid electric double-layer and single-layer buses produced by WrightsGroup Ltd.
The need to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in urban centers is one of the key drivers of Wrightbus's implementation of the new technology, which reduces carbon dioxide emissions by saving fuel. Integrating graphene-based supercapacitors into Wright Bus double-decker buses for testing can save 36% of fuel compared with diesel buses based on the UK’s EuroVI (Euro VI) emission standards. Compared with hybrid vehicles based on lithium batteries, it can increase the capacity of at least three other passengers.
Skeleton Technologies has brought graphene from the laboratory to the real world: As part of supercapacitor technology, graphene significantly increases the power and energy density of supercapacitors in actual work, while keeping its internal resistance low and extending its life.
With Skeleton Technologies' graphene supercapacitor technology, Wright bus operators can also reduce maintenance costs. Although the life of a lithium battery may last 4 to 5 years, the life of a supercapacitor can be extended by at least 5-7 years compared to a lithium battery during 1 million cycles, with an estimated life of 12-15 years.
"Skeleton Technologies' graphene supercapacitors can save a lot of fuel and extend their service life. It is also a "plug and play" solution that adds safety and reliability to the vehicle.", Chairman and Chief Executive of Wrights Group Executive Officer Mr. Mark Nodder said.
Mr. Taavi Madiberk, CEO of Skeleton Technologies, commented: "Graphene supercapacitors have been integrated into the bus before, but the energy and power density of our supercapacitors have always been the key to the selection process. We are very happy to participate in Wrightbus's urban carbon dioxide reduction activity."
Taavi Madiberk: "Super battery is the goal that car manufacturers have been pursuing. Its birth will change the entire industry. With lithium ion batteries, they have all the advantages: high energy and power density, long life and fast speed within 15 seconds. Rechargeability.” Skeleton Technologies’ products have also reached one of the countries with the lowest ESR (equivalent series resistance of 0.095 mΩ) in the market. This factor is critical because it greatly increases the efficiency of the unit and reduces the energy loss caused by heat.
The company`s R&D base is located in Tallinn, Estonia, and is currently building graphene supercapacitors in Germany for Tier 1 automotive companies, industrial equipment OEMs, truck fleet operators and aerospace prime contractors.