Despite gaining popularity, many people do not accept electric vehicles as an option over fuel vehicles, because of range anxiety (link our blog here). Interestingly, a UK- based startup has come up with the best solution. NyoBolt’s 6-minute mobile supercharger Bolt-ee has been designed to deliver around 100-miles of range under 10 minutes of charge. This innovative battery went through 2500 rapid charges and discharges and is ready to hit the market in 2024. It is expected to revolutionize the EV industry with a thunderous bolt.
UK battery startup NyoBolt has unveiled its latest innovation, that is, a supercharger that can be fully recharged in just six minutes. This follows their previous achievement of developing an electric vehicle that can also be fully charged in the same amount of time. The Bolt-ee is a mobile device that looks like a metal box with wheels and a touchscreen. It can charge quickly with direct current at 300kW.
According to the company, “Bolt-ee can reach a parked vehicle in any bay, delivering up to 100 miles of range in under 10 minutes, with a battery life of over 10,000 charging cycles.”
The main purpose of Bolt-ee is to tackle the insufficient charging network, one of the major obstacles hindering the extensive usage of electric vehicles. Around the world, the percentage of electric cars among newly sold vehicles climbed to 14% in 2022 compared to 9% in 2021. Europe witnessed an even higher rate of 22%.
Professor Clare Grey, co-founder and chief scientist of NyoBolt said, “NyoBolt’s ready-to-deploy technology, which will go into production in early 2024, will help accelerate the adoption of EVs — particularly for drivers who may not be able to charge at home.”
According to Steve Hutchins, the VP of engineering at NyoBolt, their team has successfully performed over 2500 rapid charges and discharges on their battery, resulting in a remarkable degradation of less than 15% in its overall capacity to store electricity. The main challenge lies in enhancing the capacity of lithium-ion batteries to rapidly store higher amounts of electrical charge within a reduced timeframe.
Sai Shivareddy, co-founder and CEO of NyoBolt explained, “To put a lot of power in, you need to get a lot of current through it. To get a lot of current through, a lot of charge needs to flow in and out of the materials.”
NyoBolt has developed a new material that can handle high power levels but has not revealed any details about it.
Other Potential Uses
Bolt-ee aims to overcome these obstacles by functioning as a revolutionary power bank specifically designed for cars. In addition to its utilization in households, parking lots, and service stations, this innovative startup suggests that portable charger could even be integrated into rescue vehicles to provide much-needed assistance to motorists who find themselves stranded due to depleted batteries.
The surging demand for electric vehicles (EVs) presents a potential risk of surpassing the availability of charging technology. Currently, the EU has around 375,000 public charging stations, but industry experts predict the need for at least 3 million new charging stations by 2030. However, various obstacles, including planning permission, prolonged construction efforts, and grid connectivity, have hindered the pace of progress. NyoBolt’s 6-minute mobile supercharger Bolt-ee is expected to overcome all these hurdles.
Also See: P3 Group Report Reveals Lucid Air as the Fastest Charged EV, Overtaking Tesla Model S
About the Company
NyoBolt, established in 2020, has already managed to secure approximately $100 million in funding, as confirmed by Dealroom’s data. The company currently operates a cutting-edge anode-manufacturing facility in Cambridge, UK, and has recently expanded its reach by inaugurating a state-of-the-art battery factory in Boston, US.
In June, the startup introduced an impressive electric sports car prototype inspired by the Lotus Elise, capable of being fully recharged in less than six minutes. The car was equipped with a state-of-the-art lightweight battery pack developed by NyoBolt, which offers an estimated range of approximately 250 km (about 155.34 mi) on a single charge.
In a sector where concerns about limited range and lengthy charging periods persist as major obstacles, the introduction of a battery that charges in just six minutes has the potential to revolutionize the game. Nonetheless, it is yet to be determined if these battery packs can be successfully scaled up to millions of units.
Source: Nyobolt welcomes compact mobile supercharger: Bolt-ee
