24M Technologies has announced a breakthrough electrolyte technology that could allow electric vehicles to charge four times faster using today’s charging infrastructure.
The US company’s new electrolyte, called Eternalyte, can add 186 miles of range to an EV battery in just four minutes. The technology works with existing lithium-ion batteries rather than requiring solid-state cells.
Most significantly, Eternalyte achieves these charging speeds using current ultra-rapid DC chargers. It doesn’t need the ultra-powerful megawatt charging systems that most passenger cars can’t even use.
Today’s 800V passenger vehicles can only accept up to 525kW of power. Megawatt chargers deliver three times more power than regular ultra-rapid devices, but compatibility remains limited.
Cold Weather Performance
BYD recently announced megawatt "flash charging" for its 1,000V Han L and Tang L models in China. The system adds 1.2 miles of range per second of charging. However, these chargers currently operate only in China.
24M’s electrolyte works by tripling a battery’s ionic conductivity – the rate ions flow between the anode and cathode. Higher ionic conductivity means faster charging speeds.
The company says Eternalyte maintains energy density regardless of battery chemistry.
Cold weather performance represents another major improvement. Conventional batteries lose about 25% of capacity at freezing temperatures and nearly all capacity in extreme cold.
Eternalyte retains essentially full capacity at 0°C. At -40°C, it maintains more than 80% capacity.
“24M’s Eternalyte electrolyte breakthrough solves some of the biggest challenges of lithium-ion batteries today,” said Naoki Ota, president and CEO at 24M Technologies. “Rapid charge, superior low-temperature performance and great cycle life with lithium-metal and other high-energy density chemistries.”
The technology could enable lithium-metal batteries with 1,600-kilometer driving range. Ota says applications range from EVs to consumer products.
24M positions Eternalyte as paving the way for next-generation battery systems with years of reliable performance.
