Chinese scientists have developed a groundbreaking battery technology that could double the range of electric vehicles and maintain performance even in freezing temperatures. Developed with a new hydrofluorocarbon-based electrolyte, this technology offers the possibility of traveling up to 1,000 kilometers on a single charge, while operating safely even in extreme temperatures as low as -70°C. Conducted by Nankai University and the Shanghai Institute of Space Power Sources, the study aims to fundamentally solve range anxiety and cold-weather performance issues in the electric vehicle sector.
According to the research published in Nature, experts opted for a fluorine-based chemical formula instead of traditional oxygen- or nitrogen-based compounds to overcome the physical limits of lithium batteries. This new approach reduces the viscosity of the electrolyte, enabling higher stability and energy transmission. Chronic problems in existing lithium batteries, such as capacity loss and slower charging speeds in cold weather, are addressed through this new “all-weather” electrolyte design.
Laboratory tests proved that the new technology represents a major breakthrough in energy density. At room temperature, the system reached 1,540 watt-hours per kilogram, doubling, and even tripling, the capacity of conventional lithium-metal batteries. Researchers emphasize that an electric vehicle currently offering a range of 500 to 600 kilometers could comfortably travel 1,000 kilometers on a single charge with this battery technology.
While standard lithium batteries lose half of their performance at -20°C, the fluorine-based cells developed by the Chinese team managed to retain an energy density of approximately 880 watt-hours per kilogram even at -50°C. The fact that the battery can continue stable charge and discharge cycles even under the harshest conditions, with temperatures dropping as low as -70°C, opens the door for its use not only in automotive applications but also in aviation and space research.
The next obstacle to the widespread adoption of this promising technology is the issue of stability at high temperatures. The scientific team is continuing its research to raise the boiling point of the electrolyte and ensure safe operation in extreme heat. If this development process is successfully completed, these “all-climate” batteries could become a fundamental power source for unmanned aerial vehicles, high-altitude robots, and spacecraft designed to operate in the most challenging regions of the solar system.
Source: Solarbaba – In Turkish
