Revolution in the electric car: Fast load in frost thanks to new technology!

Revolution in the electric car: Fast load in frost thanks to new technology!

University of Michigan, USA - The popularity of electric vehicles grows continuously. In April 2025, over 45,500 new electric cars were approved in Germany, such as the adac . This development increasingly puts the carmaker under pressure to find innovative solutions in order to master the challenges of modern electromobility. A significant research results comes from the University of Michigan , which has presented a promising progress in battery technology.

The new technology could revolutionize the lithium-ion batteries's load pattern, especially at low temperatures. These batteries are currently susceptible to waste of performance when the temperatures fall. This means that charging often runs slower in winter or that additional energy is required to heat the batteries. These innovative progress could not only improve the speed of the charging process, but also increase the range of the vehicles.

innovative coating for batteries

The research team has developed a 20 nanometer thin coating made of lithium borate and lithium carbonate. This coating has the potential to increase the loading speed by almost 500 percent at frost. In conventional batteries, cold leads to the formation of a hard lithium layer on the electrodes, which significantly extends the loading time. This layer is effectively prevented by the new technology. This development could significantly increase the attractiveness of electric vehicles, especially in colder regions.

In addition, the new process enables the batteries to be charged quickly without affecting the energy density. This could have a significant impact on the probability that manufacturers will adapt this technology without having to make major adjustments to existing factories.

market development and challenges

The current developments in the field of battery technology should also be considered in the context of the global market for electric cars. According to Statista , the number of electric vehicles in Germany will probably increase significantly by 2030, although their number has already more than doubled in the past two years. Lithium, as the main component of most electric car batteries, remains a critical issue, especially since the acquisition of raw materials raises both environmental and human rights concerns.

china dominates the market in batteries and will reach a production capacity of around 4.7 terrawatt hours a year by 2030. In comparison, the European production capacity is estimated at around 0.8 terrawatt hours. Companies such as CATL and BYD lead the market while Europe is trying to catch up with over 50 batteries that are under construction or planning. Germany occupies a key role here because it has most of the production locations for electrical car batteries within Europe.

Despite the impressive progress in battery technology, there are challenges, such as the risk of fire and high production costs of lithium-ion batteries. Research results show that solid batteries are a promising alternative, but have to deal with longer charging times and a lower reach. Various alternative battery types are currently being researched to further improve the efficiency and sustainability of electromobility.