An experimental cooling technique developed by NASA engineers for use on the International Space Station has been adapted to drastically reduce the time it takes to recharge electric cars’ batteries. The complex heat transfer system was originally developed to maintain suitable temperatures in space, but a research team has discovered that the technology could be applicable on Earth as well.
The heat from charging powerful lithium-ion batteries in electric vehicles means that chargers are currently limited to around 30 amps for household chargers and 350 amps for “quick-charge” stations. This results in charging times ranging from around 20 minutes to several hours, much longer than it takes to refuel a fuel-powered vehicle.
Can Supply 4.6x The Current Of Chargers
Known as “supercool flow boiling,” the new technique can deliver 4.6 times the current of the fastest EV chargers on the market, resulting in charging times of less than five minutes. A team from Purdue University in the USA, supported by Nasa’s Division of Biological and Physical Sciences, used the technique to develop a Flow Boiling and Condensation Experiment (FBCE) to safely cool high-load-bearing cables. “This technology could make it easier and more feasible to have an electric car on Earth,” Nasa said in a blog post.
“The application of this new technology has resulted in an unprecedented reduction of the time required to charge a vehicle and could remove one of the major barriers to worldwide adoption of electric vehicles.” Purdue University is currently seeking additional industry partners to continue the development of the technology.
