Super-Strong Batteries May Usher in the Age of Electric Planes

Electric vehicles, among them cars, ferries, and airplanes are one of the great hopes for a more environmentally friendly future. Powered by batteries, instead of fuel, these vehicles could lower the amount of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere worldwide. Now, a transportation revolution is on the cusp of becoming a reality

Research from two Swedish universities, Chalmers University of Technology in Gothenburg and the KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, have revealed a battery made of material so strong, it can be used as part of the structure of the vehicle it is powering. 

A question of weight and strength
The idea of a structural battery, or a battery that is part of the structure of a given object, has been the subject of research for many years now, according to a Chalmers University of Technology press release. 

In 2018, researchers from the two iniversities published a paper  in IOPScience showing that carbon fibers could function as electrodes in lithium-ion batteries. This meant that the fibers themselves could work as batteries. 

However, at that point, the battery  was not strong enough to be used commercially, according to The Independent. But now, the Swedish team presented their newest carbon fiber battery in research that was published in Advanced Materials.

 “We have succeeded in creating a battery made of carbon fiber composite that is as stiff as aluminum and energy-dense enough to be used commercially. Just like a human skeleton, the battery has several functions at the same time,”  Dr. Richa Chaudhary, the lead researcher on the Advanced Materials paper, said in the university press release. 

Though the battery is not as powerful as today’s non-structural lithium-ion batteries, it makes up for it in the fact that it is super light and can be used as a part of a vehicle’s structure. The researchers estimate that it could increase the range of an electric charge up to 70 percent in a single charge. 

In addition, the material can carry as much weight as aluminum, making it a strong but still light option for electric vehicle manufacturers. 

Commercial applications
As can be expected there could potentially be a wide range of commercial applications for this technology. It could serve as the structure and power source for super-thin batteries, or practically weightless laptops. It could power cars or even airplanes. 

According to New Atlas, Sinonus, a deep-tech start-up is already working on the road to making the technology commercially viable. They dream of super-light cars, electric vertical take-off vehicles with almost no charging times, and windmills with blades that serve as their own batteries. 

Still, there are complications that need to be overcome. The batteries are not as efficient as regular batteries, and the costs are still high. And yet, these developments are still encouraging.

Who knows, maybe one day laptops will be as light as a feather, electic cars will charge in mere minutes, and flying will be ecco-friendly.