Chinese battery manufacturer SEVB has unveiled the world’s first 1,400 A ultra-fast charging battery that delivers over 93 miles (150 km+) range on a single minute’s charging. The battery dubbed Star Chaser 2.0 is among the battery and charging innovations unveiled by the company at the 17th Shenzhen International Battery Fair in China.
With demonstrations of long-range driving, electric vehicle (EV) batteries addressed one of the key concerns among potential buyers—range anxiety. A full battery of an EV today can deliver the same range as a full tank of an internal combustion engine (ICE)-powered vehicle. So, battery makers are tackling the next major problem plaguing EV adoption—that of refueling time.
A gas stop for an ICE-powered car is barely five minutes. However, EVs take considerably longer to fuel up to deliver a similar driving range. EV battery makers are keen to reduce their time difference and are aiming for higher charging rates, measured in C. A 4C charger can fill an EV battery in 15 minutes, but SEVB’s newest offering takes this up a few notches by charging at 12C, or just five minutes for a full battery charge.
About Star Chaser
Unveiled at the International Battery Fair in Shenzhen, China, this is the second generation of SVEB’s Star Chaser system but makes a major leap over the 4C charging rates of its predecessor, which was released in 2022.
Over the years, SVEB has invested heavily in the technology that goes into making battery packs. The company uses its proprietary Tianqing architecture, which supports high energy density with thermoelectric separation.
Using a combination of an integrated liquid-cooled battery disconnect unit (BDU) and inserting flexible printed circuits (FPCs) directly into battery packs to save space while increasing safety features, the company has achieved the seemingly impossible task of charging at 12C.
Delivering range and safety beyond four-wheelers
Star Chaser 2.0 isn’t just aiming at fast-charging future EVs but also ensuring that it can balance it with range for vehicles that require it. For instance, at 6C charging rates, the platform delivers ~530 miles (800 km) range, which is also a record.
Equally important is that the company has addressed other pain points in battery charging, such as risks of thermal runaway and fire, by introducing newer approaches to cooling, such as multilayer sandwich cooling, increasing the cooling area by 50 percent, and aerospace-grade insulation technology.
Additionally, users can rest assured that these battery charging rates will apply even in extreme cold areas of the world, after the company claims to have ensured 90 percent energy retention at -20 degrees Celsius and normal operation at -40 Fahrenheit (-40 degrees Celsius).
The advanced technologies deployed by SEVB are not limited to four-wheelers alone but are being rolled out for two-wheelers too. The company announced the first 6C charging battery pack for two-wheelers with ultra-low resistance, which ensures up to five degrees lower heat generation.
Not just charging times, SEVB has set a low cost of ownership as its target and is competing with ICEs even on that front. The company claims that its newer battery packs will ensure that the three-year cost of ownership of new EVs will be lower than that of ICEs, a report said.
