Singapore Uni Lab Will Build Fast-Charging EV Batteries That Can Last 30 Years

National University of Singapore (NUS) facility is developing batteries that will allow an electric vehicle (EV) to be fully charged in the time it takes to fill up at a petrol station. These batteries, made of the metal niobium, are expected to last a full decade longer than those currently powering EVs, and may even outlast the vehicle itself. The fast-charging batteries are one of the key projects of a new S$5 million (RM23.06 million) battery innovation NUS facility, which was officially opened on May 22 and is supported by the National Research Foundation. It marks NUS' entry into the race to develop the next-generation of batteries, which are currently in short supply due to an electrical energy boom. The lab was established in collaboration with CBMM, the world's leading supplier of niobium, to develop fast-charging batteries with a 30-year lifespan.

According to Professor Antonio H. Castro Neto, director of NUS' Centre for Advanced 2D Materials (CA2DM), the facility allows developers to build and test all parts of their battery prototype in one location rather than going around to multiple manufacturers to develop each battery part.

The centre is home to the new facility – the CBMM-CA2DM Advanced Battery Laboratory.

Battery testers can use a variety of tools, including a furnace to grow new materials and X-ray scanners to study the properties of elements used. The lab also has a dry room (where humidity is kept at 1%), a no-oxygen chamber for battery testing, and a fire-proof room where prototypes can be tested safely. "The project is very much a pilot line for battery production," Prof Castro Neto explained.

"It's not a large-volume facility like a gigafactory; the idea is to produce enough batteries for third-party makers to test, get a first look at, and get (them) approved for market use." According to Prof Castro Neto, the facility is open to approved battery makers and enterprises interested in developing next-generation batteries. He also stated that each project will be reviewed by a panel of scientists who must be convinced that the project is truly innovative rather than simply providing an incremental improvement to existing batteries.

According to CBMM global head of batteries Rogerio Ribas, the centre is starting with niobium-graphene batteries, which combine niobium's resistant molecular structure with graphene's electrical conductivity.

CBMM has sold niobium over the last four years to improve the durability of batteries used in electronics such as electric scooters and power tools, according to Ribas.

The company's current goal is to make the technology more convenient and long-lasting, with a niobium-graphene battery prototype scheduled for production in 2024.

According to Ribas, the structure of niobium is more resistant to stress while the battery is charging, which extends the battery's lifespan and prevents it from overheating.

He claims that once ready, niobium-built batteries can be charged at least 10,000 times while retaining approximately 80% of their starting capacity. This projection is up to five times greater than what standard EV batteries can currently achieve.

The company's goal is to create car batteries that can charge completely in 10 minutes - roughly three times faster than the most recent fast-charging cells found in EVs today - while remaining durable and safe to use. Ribas added that it remains to be seen how long each charge on a niobium-built battery will last, but fast-charging capabilities will allow smaller battery packs to serve more vehicles.

These batteries are among several next-generation cells under consideration to provide a more sustainable alternative to the production of lithium-ion batteries, which emit toxic waste when discarded.

Scientists at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) are toasting waste paper into carbon blocks for battery parts. Another NTU project is pioneering the use of fruit peels to assist in the breakdown of used batteries. NUS is also developing a solid-state battery that does not contain any flammable liquids.