Chemical engineers at the Univ. of Maryland (UMD) have developed a rechargeable electric car battery with unprecedented energy density (i.e., amount of charge the battery can hold).
The new battery’s energy capacity (energy density multiplied by its voltage) is almost double that of commercial batteries. The battery is also capable of retaining 93% of its original energy capacity, even after 1,000 charge and discharge cycles. (Currently, the life of a commercial battery is approximately 300 cycles.) This development could increase battery safety, reduce car prices, and most importantly, it could double electric car driving range.
The success of electric cars relies on how far users can drive on a single charge. According to the U.S. Dept. of Energy, there are over 100,000 gas stations in the U.S., but only around 18,000 electric car charging stations. Because of this disparity in fuel, drivers are limited by infrequent charges to their vehicles.
The standard commercial...
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