IAS / SENG / EI Joint Lecture - Battery Fast Charging vs. High Energy Density for Electric Vehicles

Abstract
In this lecture, the speaker will compare two battery approaches currently under intensive pursuit to eliminate “range anxiety” for electric vehicles (EVs): fast charging and high energy density. The comparison is carried out for a long-distance trip based on cost, safety, energy efficiency, power or driving experience, and lifespan. It is found that fast re-chargeability is an economical answer to mass-market EVs, making possible a vehicle battery costing only US$3,500 while eliminating range anxiety. The study of the speaker also finds that increasing battery’s energy density should be all about reducing its unit cost $/kWh; reaching $55/kWh is a threshold goal, or else new battery technologies of higher energy density will face harsh market reality. The speaker will discuss why any fast charging solutions for EVs must be evaluated under three metrics simultaneously: charge time (<10 min), specific energy acquired by fast charge (>180 Wh/kg), and cycle number (>1000) under the fast charge condition.

About the speaker
Prof. Wang Chao-Yang is William E. Diefenderfer Chair Professor of Mechanical, Chemical Engineering, and Materials Science & Engineering at the Pennsylvania State University. He is also an Academician of US National Academy of Inventors.

Prof. Wang’s research interests include multiphase transport, batteries and fuel cells. He also conducts fundamental and applied research on fuel cells and advanced batteries for electric propulsion, stationary power generation and portable electronics.

Prof. Wang has over 220 journal publications, over 33,000 citations, and an H-index of 102. His work on all-climate battery (ACB) was selected by the 2022 Winter Olympic Games to power electric vehicles serving the Games, as well as adopted by several carmakers. His latest inventions on fast charging batteries (FCB), safe, energy dense batteries (SEB) and thermally modulated battery (TMB) were highlighted in journals Nature and Science as well as covered by mainstream media such as USA Today, Popular Mechanics, BBC, The Guardian, Agence France-Presse, Daily Mail, etc.