Nyobolt's Breakthrough: Electric Car Battery Charges from 10% to 80% in Under 5 Minutes

Nyobolt's Breakthrough: Electric Car Battery Charges from 10% to 80% in Under 5 Minutes
Image credit: Nyobolt website 

Nyobolt's Electric Car Battery Charges in Record Time

In a significant breakthrough, UK start-up Nyobolt demonstrated its electric car battery, which charged from 10% to 80% in just four minutes and 37 seconds. This event, held on a test track in Bedford using a specially-built concept sports car, showcases a leap in EV charging technology. Comparatively, Tesla’s superchargers typically take 15-20 minutes to achieve the same charge level.

The quick-charging Nyobolt battery allows the concept sports car to achieve a range of 120 miles after just four minutes of charging. In contrast, a Tesla charged to 80% can usually cover up to 200 miles. Despite challenges like the UK heatwave, a failure in the car’s cooling system, and an on-site charger not made by Nyobolt, the demonstration was hailed as a "big milestone for electrification" by Nyobolt's co-founder, Dr. Sai Shivareddy. 

Dr. Shivareddy mentioned that the public test, witnessed by industry professionals, was “nerve-wracking” but ultimately successful. He humorously noted that his own car was still charging after he had plugged it in earlier that day. The firm aims to partner with existing car brands rather than manufacturing its own vehicles, with plans to integrate the battery into EVs on a small scale within a year. 

Electric car charging 

Nyobolt claims its battery minimizes degradation, maintaining an 80% charge capacity after 4,000 cycles. For context, Apple states the iPhone 15 battery retains 80% functionality after 1,000 cycles.

Experts emphasize that rapid charging technology is crucial for the widespread adoption of EVs, addressing "range anxiety." However, they also highlight the need for an extensive and improved charging infrastructure. Paul Shearing, Professor of Sustainable Energy Engineering at Oxford University, stressed the importance of more chargers of all types, and Dr. Edward Brightman from Strathclyde University underscored the urgency of upgrading the grid to support rapid charging capabilities. 

This advancement in battery technology aligns with global efforts to develop faster-charging, more powerful, and durable batteries. For instance, Toyota has announced a solid-state battery breakthrough, and the US start-up Gravity has developed a compact charger that can add 200 miles of range in under 13 minutes.