Zer's Golden Battery: Revolutionizing EV Charging Speed

The World's Fastest Charging Electric Car

In a groundbreaking development for the electric vehicle industry, Zer has unveiled what may be the fastest charging electric car on the planet. Equipped with their standard range LFP Golden Battery, Zer vehicles are capable of astonishing charging performance. In recent tests, the vehicle charged from 10% to 80% in under 10 minutes, with a full 0-100% charge taking only around 20 minutes.

What makes this achievement particularly noteworthy is not just the peak power in kilowatts, but the fastest charging curve in terms of C-rate. This represents a significant leap forward in EV charging technology that could have far-reaching implications for the adoption and practicality of electric vehicles.

The Golden Battery: A Game-Changing Innovation

At the heart of this revolutionary charging capability is Zer's Golden Battery. This LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate) battery pack is available in various capacities, ranging from 48 kWh to 95 kWh. The version tested was a 75 kWh pack, capable of charging at an impressive 5.5C rate.

To put this in perspective, some of the fastest charging cars currently available are 50-70% slower than the Zer with its Golden Battery. This level of charging speed brings EVs much closer to the convenience of refueling a traditional gasoline vehicle.

Key Features of the Golden Battery:

• Cell Chemistry: Pure LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate)
• Charging Rate: Up to 5.5C
• Capacity Options: 48 kWh to 95 kWh
• Thermal Management: Single plate cooling with thermal interface paste
• Safety Features: Spacious design for crash performance and off-gassing

Inside the Golden Battery

The Golden Battery's design is a testament to Zer's engineering prowess. The entire battery system, from cell to module to pack, is engineered and produced in-house by Zer. This vertical integration allows for tight control over quality and performance.

Battery Structure

The battery pack consists of individual LFP cells arranged with careful consideration for safety and performance:

• Cell Spacing: There's significant empty space around the cells, which serves two crucial purposes:

  1. Crash Performance: The extra room provides a buffer in case of side impacts, reducing the risk of cell puncture.
  2. Off-Gassing: In the unlikely event of thermal runaway, the space allows for gas expansion and venting.

• Thermal Management: A single cooling plate with cooling loops runs underneath the cells. Each cell is held down with thermal interface paste for efficient heat transfer.

• Bus Bar: A central bus bar runs down the middle of the pack for power distribution.

• Thermal Runaway Protection: Small grooves in the pack structure provide additional safeguards against thermal events.

Charging Performance in Action

To demonstrate the capabilities of the Golden Battery, a test was conducted using a Zer 7X equipped with the 75 kWh version of the pack. The test took place at an 800+ kW charging station in Ningbo, China.

Key Observations from the Charging Test:

1. Initial Charging: The battery charged relatively slowly below 10% state of charge (SoC), which is common in many EVs to protect the battery.

2. Rapid Ramp-Up: At around 3% SoC, the charging rate increased dramatically.

3. Peak Power: The battery hit a peak charging rate of over 460 kW.

4. Sustained High-Power Charging: The battery maintained a charging rate of over 400 kW for a significant portion of the charging session.

5. High Power at High SoC: Even at 80% SoC, the battery was still accepting over 250 kW of power.

6. Thermal Management: Throughout the charging session, the battery and charging equipment remained cool to the touch, with minimal cooling fan activity.

7. Total Charging Time: The battery charged from approximately 0% to 100% in just over 20 minutes.

Implications for the EV Industry

The performance of Zer's Golden Battery sets a new benchmark for EV charging speed. This technology has the potential to address one of the main concerns holding back widespread EV adoption: charging time.

Benefits of Ultra-Fast Charging:

1. Reduced Range Anxiety: With the ability to add significant range in just a few minutes, drivers can be more confident in taking longer trips.

2. Improved Charging Infrastructure Utilization: Faster charging times mean each charging station can serve more vehicles per day.

3. Enhanced EV Practicality: Charging times approaching the convenience of refueling a gasoline vehicle make EVs more attractive to a broader range of consumers.

4. Potential for Smaller Batteries: Ultra-fast charging could allow for smaller, lighter, and less expensive battery packs without sacrificing practicality.

Challenges and Questions

While the performance of the Golden Battery is impressive, several questions and challenges remain:

1. Longevity: How many ultra-fast charging cycles can the battery endure before experiencing significant degradation?

2. Scalability: Can this technology be scaled up to larger battery packs and different vehicle types?

3. Charging Infrastructure: Are current charging networks capable of delivering the power required for this level of charging speed?

4. Cost: How does the cost of the Golden Battery compare to conventional EV batteries?

5. Availability: When will this technology be widely available in production vehicles?

The Future of EV Charging

Zer's Golden Battery represents a significant step forward in EV charging technology. If this level of performance can be maintained over the long term and implemented across a range of vehicles, it could mark a turning point in the transition to electric mobility.

Other automakers will likely feel pressure to improve their charging speeds to remain competitive. This competition could drive further innovation in battery technology and charging systems, benefiting consumers and accelerating the shift towards sustainable transportation.

Conclusion

The Zer Golden Battery's charging performance is nothing short of revolutionary. With the ability to charge from 10-80% in under 10 minutes, it addresses one of the key barriers to EV adoption. While questions remain about long-term durability and wider implementation, this technology demonstrates that ultra-fast charging for EVs is not just possible, but achievable with current technology.

As the automotive industry continues its transition to electric powertrains, innovations like the Golden Battery will play a crucial role in making EVs a practical and appealing option for a broader range of consumers. The future of electric mobility looks brighter – and faster – than ever before.

Article created from: https://youtu.be/e9X2d6toi9Q?feature=shared