Challenges and Opportunities for Fast-Charging Batteries
Shenglu Geng, Yan Zhang, Bingxing Xie, Anran Shi, Yanbin Ning, Shuaifeng Lou, Geping Yin
Abstract
Lithium-ion batteries have dominated the markets of portable devices, electric vehicles, and grid storage. However, the increased safety concerns, range anxiety, and the mismatch between charging time and expectations resulted in a severe hampering of their applications in electric vehicles (EVs). This Perspective focuses on the limiting factors and the recent progress of fast-charging lithium-ion batteries. The limiting factors are discussed from the materials, electrolytes, electrodes, cells, packs, systems, charging stations, and safety issues including the potential impact of fast charging on thermal runaway characteristics. Then, performance optimization strategies from multiscales for fast charging are reviewed. In particular, the key to future fast-charging technologies lies in high-voltage charging techniques and advanced thermal management systems. These technologies can achieve both fast charging and uniform temperature distribution. Finally, the technological gaps are identified and suggestions are made for future research direction, emphasizing the necessity of developing advanced on-board methods to detect battery resistance and temperature rises with intelligent charging algorithms, which are viewed as the basis of fast charging.