The promise of a battery that charges in six minutes is not new. They appear in laboratories, are advertised in press releases, and then fade into the background. Why? Because chemical industrialization is a nightmare. Too complex or expensive to compete with existing production lines. A startup called Echion Technologies claims to have cracked the code.
Jean De La Verpillière founded Echion while studying for a PhD in nanoscience at the University of Cambridge. The company’s sales pitch is aggressive. The company claims its new lithium-ion chemistry can cut charging times for smartphones and electric cars to just six minutes. Unlike many other “breakthrough” products that are in research and development, Echion says it is ready for a commercial launch next year.
Use secret powder instead of graphite
The core of Echion technology is a simple switch. It replaces the standard negative graphite electrode of lithium-ion batteries with a proprietary special powder. The exact chemical composition is a trade secret. The inventors claim that the material can support fast charging without common safety risks such as thermal runaway or dendrite formation.
If so, a battery using this component can be fully charged in 6 minutes. Works at any scale.
Echion currently produces a kilo of powder per day. This is enough for an electric car battery. The company is currently expanding its scale with the goal of 1,000 tons per year. They claim that this will not require new factories. Instead, the material can be injected into existing battery manufacturing infrastructure with minimal capital investment.
However, the press release does not mention any hard information. It is impossible to say how many charge cycles a battery will last before it degrades. Is it the same life as a standard lithium ion battery? We’ll have to wait until next year to see if Echion’s gamble pays off.
Toshiba SCiB: 6 minutes 320 km
Toshiba has been playing in this pool for a long time. In October 2017, the Japanese giant announced a new generation of SCiB (Super Charge ion Battery ) technology. The specifications are impressive. The range is said to be 320 km after 6 minutes of charging. Commercialization is planned for 2019.
This isn’t Toshiba’s first fast-charging demonstration. SCiB was launched in 2008. The original version can charge 90% in 5 minutes and has a lifespan of 10 years. These batteries are found in mass market electric cars such as Mitsubishi i MiEV (Peugeot iOn in France) and Honda Fit EV. These early models used lithium titanate oxide anodes.
In the new version, the storage capacity has been doubled by changing the material. A mixture of niobium titanium oxide (NbTi) is currently used in the anode. This alloy has superconducting properties at low temperatures. Toshiba announced that it has mastered a method for synthesizing and arranging NbTi crystals that effectively doubles the energy density compared to conventional lithium titanate designs.
Prototype testing of the 50 Ah SCiB showed that it could withstand 5000 charge cycles while retaining 90% of its original capacity. The battery also withstands cold weather. Charging is efficient in temperatures down to -10°C and takes about 10 minutes to reach a significant state of charge. This endurance supports the claim that it can travel 320 kilometers after a 6-minute quick stop.
The promise of the first 5 minutes
The pressure of ultra-fast charging is nothing new. In November 2009, Toshiba announced plans to mass-produce SCiB batteries for the automotive industry. The goal was bold: charge an electric car in five minutes.
They set SCiB’s way to increase its competitiveness in charging and refueling. Measured at 90% charge in 5 minutes. Durability is also a selling point. According to Toshiba, the battery can withstand more than 6,000 charge/discharge cycles in 10 years of daily use without significant performance degradation.
The gap between prototype and product is a big obstacle. Echion is betting that its powder-based approach can avoid the cost barrier. Toshiba has been improving oxide alloy anodes for over a decade. Both are aiming for the same holy grail. Time is running out, and time is running out to test whether both sides can deliver on their six-minute promise at scale.
Charging time difference: from 30 minutes to several hours
Toshiba is expanding. The company already has its own SCiB battery manufacturing facility and plans to open a second factory in spring 2011. Its goal is very ambitious: to produce 500,000 batteries per month in the first year and then expand production to supply major hybrid and electric vehicle manufacturers. These include upcoming plug-in hybrids such as the Chevrolet Volt and Opel Ampera.
The current reality of electric cars is a stark contrast. Most manufactured lithium-ion batteries take several tens of minutes to charge. Take the Nissan Leaf and Mitsubishi i-MiEV for example. Both were introduced to the European market at the end of 2010. An 80% charge takes 30 minutes, but only when using a separate charging station. Connecting to a standard 200 volt outlet can take several hours.
This difference defines the user experience. Fast charging exists, but it depends on the specific infrastructure. Slow charging is universal but impractical for quick top-ups. Toshiba’s SCiB technology aims to fill this gap with higher power density and faster absorption speed.
“This difference determines the user experience. Fast charging is there, but it depends on the specific infrastructure.”
For drivers, the difference between 30 minutes and three hours is like the difference between a short coffee break and a big lunch date. Infrastructure determines behavior. In areas where fast chargers are concentrated, range anxiety is reduced. If only standard sockets are available, drivers plan based on charging time. Toshiba’s expansion shows that the industry is investing in volume to reduce costs and improve availability.
Speed isn’t the only problem. It’s all about consistency. Can the grid withstand the load? Can the batteries withstand repeated fast cycles without degradation? Another Toshiba factory suggests an answer. More production means more data. More information means more advanced chemistry.
Until then, the clock is ticking.
