Fraunhofer: SALD battery technology enables ranges up to 2,000 kilometers

The German Fraunhofer Institute, in collaboration with the Dutch state research institution The Netherlands Organisation (TNO), has announced a breakthrough in battery technology. With this innovation, ranges of up to 2,000 kilometers could become possible, it is said. The improved charging technology could in the future benefit not only electric cars but also devices from other markets, according to the scientists.

Full charge in 20 minutes

“Spatial Atom Layer Deposition” (SALD) is the achievement that emerged from the cooperation between the German Fraunhofer Institute and The Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research. The process allows for an ultra-thin atomic coating of batteries, which according to the manufacturer SALD BV, enables them to be charged five times faster and achieve three times the range of current market batteries. According to SALD BV, "with smaller batteries you could drive well over 1,000 kilometers or with larger battery packs even more than 2,000 kilometers without recharging." An electric car could be fully charged and ready to drive within 20 minutes.

Clever battery evolution

The SALD batteries are understood as an advancement of the common lithium-ion technology. The nano-coating generates an "Artificial Solid-Electrolyte Interphase" (A-SEI) and thus replaces the previous SEI with improved performance. SALD BV-CEO Frank Verhage is confident: the new highly efficient charging technology is expected to go into mass production starting in 2022. There are plenty of investors for this, but selection is done with care.

What does it mean?

The battery technology has the potential to revolutionize. Because not only the automobile industry benefits from more efficient high-performance storage. The batteries can be used in smartphones, smartwatches, and all other battery-powered devices, making life easier for the end consumer. A smartphone with SALD batteries would only need to be plugged into the charging cable once a week.