Key Takeaways

• Nyobolt’s battery charges from 10-80% in 4 minutes and 37 seconds, offering 120 miles of range.
• Smaller, more efficient batteries would reduce environmental impact and enable better handling in EVs.
• Nyobolt’s technology is attracting interest from major automakers for potential use in future vehicles.

A new electric vehicle battery developed by UK-based Nyobolt has successfully charged from 10-80% in a staggering four minutes and 37 seconds. Fitted to a unique sports car prototype, the 35 kWh battery pack was recharged with a 350 kW DC fast charger. Nyobolt notes that the first four minutes of charging are at a constant current of 500A, providing a WLTP-estimated range of 120 miles. At 100%, the battery offers 155 miles of range (WLTP).

While the battery is relatively small compared to modern-day EVs, this shows that with fast and efficient charging, automakers would be able to fit lighter and more compact battery packs into their vehicles. Yes, long-distance ranges would plummet, but the plus side is that charging times would be significantly reduced. Mainstream automakers are also promising fast charging times for future batteries. Toyota says its solid-state battery tech will deliver a 600-mile range and 10-minute charging times.

A Smaller, More Efficient Battery Comes With Many Benefits

Smaller batteries would require fewer natural resources, reducing the vehicle’s overall environmental impact. Gearheads will benefit too: the Nyobolt EV sports car weighs just 2,755 lbs, which means better handling and more exciting cars for enthusiasts – even in the electric future. “Nyobolt is removing the obstacle of slow and inconvenient charging, making electrification appealing and accessible to those who don’t have the time for lengthy charging times or space for a home charger,” said Shane Davies, director of vehicle battery systems.

The Nyobolt batteries have a long lifespan. According to the company, the cells have completed more than 4,000 full Depth of Discharge fast charge cycles, which equates to 600,000 miles of driving. What’s more, they did so while retaining 60% of their battery capacity. The firm says the battery is the result of a decade of research led by University of Cambridge scientists Professor Clare Grey CBE and Dr. Sai Shivareddy. The pair invented cutting-edge supercapacitors.

“Despite some OEMs showing fast charge times in the region of 15 minutes, a closer inspection reveals the charge is usually across a limited SOC region specifically chosen to limit the amount of life taken out of the cell; for instance, between 20-80 percent. Typically, the charge profile will only hold these peak charge levels for a short amount of the charge time. Nyobolt’s low impedance cells ensure we can offer sustainability, stretching out the battery’s usable life for up to 600,000 miles in the case of our technology demonstrator.”

– Dr Sai Shivareddy, Nyobolt co-founder and CEO

Major OEMs Are Already Interested

The battery’s ability to charge at high speeds (without impacting battery life) is due to the impedance cells, which generate less heat than other cells. This makes it much easier to manage higher power levels when the battery is charging. The anode materials in the lithium-ion cells allow electrons to transfer quickly between the cathode and anode.

Developed and engineered together with Callum, Ian Callum’s engineering firm, which has taken on some incredible projects, the battery has been designed for low-volume production. This means these packs could be used in road cars; production will increase to 1,000 packs in 2025. And it seems that OEMs are taking note. Nyobolt is reportedly in talks with eight automakers who want to use this groundbreaking technology. It will be interesting to see which brand gets to market with this tech first, as they will surely be at an advantage.