Farasis unveils EV battery that charges as quick as fueling

Chinese company Farasis Energy has revealed new battery technology that promises to cut charging times dramatically. This development means drivers concerned about the time it takes to recharge their EVs will have one fewer thing to worry about.

Farasis announced its new technology features both lithium iron phosphate (LFP) and lithium ternary battery systems (NMC), each designed for ultra-fast charging. The LFP system supports 6C charging, meaning it can theoretically fully charge in just 10 minutes. In real-world tests, this translates to charging from 10% to 80% in just over 8 and a half minutes. The lithium ternary system isn't far behind, supporting 5C charging and achieving a 10% to 80% charge in 10.2 minutes.

The time it takes to charge an EV is the second most quoted drawback of electric cars, right after charging infrastructure availability. Being able to recharge the battery in about 8 minutes puts us right on the same level as filling up a car with gasoline. Quick recharge pit-stops finally have a chance to live up to their name and be quick - 5 minutes to get the battery to 50% SoC is no longer a pipe dream.

The key to this rapid charging lies in Farasis's innovative design. The company has focused on improving heat dissipation, a critical factor in fast charging. Its "super pouch solution" (SPS) structure increases the heat dissipation area by four times for the 5C ternary batteries and a remarkable 4.8 times for the 6C LFP batteries. This design effectively manages the heat generated at the battery tabs during high-speed charging, keeping the batteries within a safe temperature range.

To achieve this, Farasis developed a new simulation model. This model allows the company to analyze and optimize battery designs much quicker. It takes only 10 seconds to run simulations, a huge improvement over the 8 to 10 hours required by traditional software. This allows Farasis to rapidly test and refine designs for various battery chemistries, including lithium ternary, LFP, and even sodium batteries.

The company's advancements in fast charging are particularly notable for LFP batteries, which are becoming increasingly popular due to their lower cost and improved safety. Farasis's ability to achieve 6C charging with LFP technology could make electric vehicles even more appealing to a broader range of consumers.

Farasis Energy holds only a 0.48% share of the battery market, placing them 14th in China, according to the China Automotive Battery Innovation Alliance (CABIA). Despite this, its technological advancements highlight the rapid pace of innovation within the electric vehicle battery sector.

The battery technology has been a bit of a bottleneck when it comes to EV adoption. But the progress made in the last 10 years is tremendous - we went from 50 kW fast charging speeds to 350 kW, and charging times went down from a couple of hours to 30, already sub-20 minutes. It is no longer unheard of to recharge an EV in the time it takes to get a cup of coffee. This latest development brings us tantalizingly close to a future where charging an electric car is as quick and convenient as filling up a gas tank.

Via