Recharge an electric car in six minutes: Cambridgeshire company makes a breakthrough

The company says it “engages with chemicals and battery cell manufacturers to integrate its materials solutions into next-generation products.”

The new technology replaces graphite in lithium batteries with a new material, although the company founder Dr Jean De La Verpilliere has not revealed what exactly.

Dr De La Verpilliere founded the company while studying for a PhD in nanoscience at the University of Cambridge. While at the university, he created a material that could replace graphite powder in lithium batteries.

“The powders are the central component of a lithium battery,” Dr De La Verpilliere told Cambridge Independent. “This is a new kind of powder which allows you to recharge in six minutes, not 45 minutes. This includes a car, so your electric car is almost as easy to charge as it is to refuel conventionally.”

He added: “The problem with the usual powders is that when you fast-charge them they can cause an explosion. With the new material – which I can’t tell you any more about – it will accept fast-charging with no safety hazard, unlike graphite."

Currently the company is developing a scaleable method of manufacturing the powders, where 1,000 tonnes could be made “quite easily” in factories.

Echion has been in discussion with a number of OEMs, and has won a partnership with Vantage Power. Vantage develops electric and hybrid powertrains for commercial and heavy-duty vehicles.

Echion Technologies www.echiontech.com