The "Holy Grail" of EV battery technology enables 6-minute charge times

UK-based startup Nyobolt claims to have achieved a breakthrough in battery technology that can reduce EV charging times to less than 10 minutes.

Nyobolt announced this week that it has unlocked the "Holy Grail" of battery technology, allowing EVs to be "fully and repeatedly" charged in less than six minutes. And the startup claims that the technology will be in production starting in 2024.

Faster charging of EVs would close the gap with gasoline-powered cars in terms of everyday convenience. If charging becomes as easy as filling up with gasoline, concerns about range will diminish and EVs will be able to use smaller battery packs.

To demonstrate this possibility, Nybold teamed up with Callum, a design firm founded by automotive designer Ian Callum, to create an electric sports car. The car was designed by Julian Thomson, designer of the original Lotus Elise. It resembles the Lotus lightweight sports car (which was also the basis for the Tesla Roadster), but is wider and longer. It also has cameras in place of exterior mirrors.

According to Nyobolt's press release, the EV weighs closer to 2,200 pounds than 4,400 pounds, thanks in part to the carbon fiber bodywork, and uses a relatively small 35 kwh battery pack. 155 miles of range on a 6-minute charge, 1 hour charge gives it a range of 1,600 miles, Nybold claims.

Nyobolt did not mention any plans for sports car production, but the startup claims to be ready to "rapidly scale up" its battery technology. According to the startup, tests completed so far include more than 2,000 quick charge cycles "without significant performance degradation."