Potential battery revolution

The University of Illinois has recently created a potentially revolutionary breakthrough in battery technology. Interestingly, it does not rely on a new chemistry, at least not initially, but rather on the geometry of the physical battery construction.

By designing a nano size porous structure with a precisely dimensioned metal lattice separating the pores, they have reduced the travel distance between the anode and cathode chemicals, where the electrolyte as the transfer medium has a much simpler job due to the dramatically shortened transport distance of the electrically charged ions.

The consequence of this is that the battery has a tenfold size reduction per unit of energy density and can be charged 1,000 times faster than today's batteries. 

This means it would take the same time to fully recharge an electric vehicle as it would take to refill the fuel tank.

The technology is being commercialized by http://xerionbattery.com/

The pore structure would look something like this:

Your smartphone would now get fully charged in 10 seconds and you car in 5 minutes after driving 1,000 miles on one battery.

Folks, if we can accelerate the production of renewable energy and add a € 50 per ton carbon tax on everything, we may stop at the edge of the precipice or perhaps not get crushed in the fall if we go over. But only if we act fast and on a massive scale!