- Huawei has filed patents for a sulfide-based, all-solid-state battery
- Business theorizes it can lock up to 3,000 km (1,864 miles) of range
- Ultra -fast charging could fill the battery in less than five minutes
Huawei is the latest on a growing list of car manufacturers and tech companies examining the possible benefits of mounting an EV with solid batteries, with like BMW, Mercedes-Benz, VW, BYD and Stellantis, all of which publish the technique.
Car news China reports that the tech giant has filed a patent that outlines a solid-state battery architecture with energy densities between 400 and 500 Wh/kg, which is two or three times it in the current EV battery landscape.
Currently, Huawei does not manufacture its own branded vehicles in China, but instead works with various car manufacturers to apply some of its existing technologies to vehicles.
According to the patent application, its batteries use a method that ‘dopes’ sulphide electrolytes with nitrogen to address side actions at the lithium interface. However, it keeps the rest of its technology close to the chest as the race over mass produces solid battery technology safely and on scale is good and really turned on.
In addition, the company theorizes that it is capable of about approx. 1,864 miles of range from its battery technology, as well as complete the industrial standard 10-80% charging in less than five minutes.
However, some industry experts are skeptical of the bold claims that point out that it is a leap of more than three times the current reach of the most impressive electric vehicles for sale today.
In a speech with Electrek, Yang Min-Ho, professor of energy technique at Dankook University, said that such performance “could be possible under laboratory conditions”, but continued to explain that the rendering of the results in the real world where energy loss and thermal control play a key role would be “extremely difficult”.
The professor was also quick to point out that the nitroge method is a “standard technique” that can again be used in a laboratory environment, but is currently difficult to scale to a point where it can be produced fair to meet the requirements of global car manufacturers.
Analysis: Large headings, small steps
Understandably, China is in its EV dominance at the moment, and it is not afraid to publish innovations that have the potential to change the game.
Megawatt charging is one of the newer items, but batteries with a fixed state have also bubbled turns below the surface for some time. Without a doubt, China will be the first to this technology, but it probably won’t be as soon as many domestic companies are coming to say, and not so impressive.
In addition, the 1,800 mile numbers seem largely meaningless as it would require a huge battery pack that will add excess weight and blunt driving dynamics in a vain attempt to remove notions of range anxiety.
Should Huawei be able to nail energy densities between 400 and 500 Wh/kg, it would be far better placed with producing smaller packages that can still offer an impressive range without the need for huge, expensive batteries.
When an EV can easily cover 600 miles on a single charge, row anxiety is largely outdated as there are so few drivers who want to sit for hours without a break. Plus, with the public charging network that is expanding and improving year to year, it is now no doubt easier than ever to find a place to connect and stretch your legs.
