IfBattery - "Instantly Rechargable Battery" research at Purdue University.

[Avacee]

Apologies if already posted but search didn't return anything.
https://www.purdue.edu/newsroom/releases/2017/Q2/instantly-rechargeable-battery-could-change-the-future-of-electric-and-hybrid-automobiles.html

Came across this and was wondering what the wise people of EEVBlog thought of its viability and practicality.

[Jono427]

"Instantly Rechargable"

- before reading you know this is already on a hype train.  Instant huh?

“Ifbattery is developing an energy storage system that would enable drivers to fill up their electric or hybrid vehicles with fluid electrolytes to re-energize spent battery fluids much like refueling their gas tanks.

 So "instant" is now about how long it takes to put gas in my car (a few min).  While if this works it's super fast compared to current charging, but no where near "instant".

 Until they can show a full working prototype then I won't get too excited.  Like most of these things we will probably never see this (or it's way too far away).

[Gyro]

Well it wouldn't be 'instant' would it? That would require an infinite current. 

Edit: Actually that looks more like a fuel cell.

[Rick Law]

Well it wouldn't be 'instant' would it? That would require an infinite current. 

Edit: Actually that looks more like a fuel cell.

You still can't do it even with "infinite current".  You also need the electrons to flow at infinite speed to get it "instantaneous".

It could be easier to enclose your charging station in a different gravitation field.  Let time dilation work to your advantage.  Instead of infinite current, you need merely an anti-gravity device.  Unlike infinite speed which relativity say you cannot have, at least no one yet come up with why anti-gravity cannot exist.

[mdszy]

It could be easier to enclose your charging station in a different gravitation field.  Let time dilation work to your advantage.  Instead of infinite current, you need merely an anti-gravity device.  Unlike infinite speed which relativity say you cannot have, at least no one yet come up with why anti-gravity cannot exist.

Sooooo... you're saying there's a chance?

[Rick Law]

It could be easier to enclose your charging station in a different gravitation field.  Let time dilation work to your advantage.  Instead of infinite current, you need merely an anti-gravity device.  Unlike infinite speed which relativity say you cannot have, at least no one yet come up with why anti-gravity cannot exist.

Sooooo... you're saying there's a chance?

Well... my statement was "at least no one yet come up with why anti-gravity cannot exist."  Key word there being yet.

So, to answer that, we will first have to invent anti-gravity - to see if there is any physical laws preventing that from happening.

There is always a chance.  I just wont bet on it happening.

Quantum mechanics say you can find the electron tunneling elsewhere by itself - that is, finding an electron moved somewhere (with higher energy potential) all by itself.  So, there is a chance that all a sudden, an ungodly amount of electron tunneled into your battery by itself.

Now, by the same reasoning, there is a chance that you would suddenly suffocate in your house.  Air molecules moves randomly.  There is a chance that all the molecules moving randomly but randomly away from where you are.  So poof, no more you.  There is a chance...

Chance doesn't mean squat.  There is even a chance another big bang occurring near us before you read this reply - no more you, no more me, no more eevblog...

I'm not giving up hoping, there is always a chance...

[Gyro]

Now, by the same reasoning, there is a chance that you would suddenly suffocate in your house.  Air molecules moves randomly.  There is a chance that all the molecules moving randomly but randomly away from where you are.  So poof, no more you.  There is a chance...

Chance doesn't mean squat.  There is even a chance another big bang occurring near us before you read this reply - no more you, no more me, no more eevblog...

But hey, it's only Monday. A lot can happen in a week. The end is nig......... 

[MagicSmoker]

The article describes a type of "flow battery" which is sort of a cross between a fuel cell and a battery. All of the energy is stored in the (usually 2-part) electrolyte - rather than the electrodes - so you can easily recharge the battery by simply swapping out the electrolyte.

[tszaboo]

It is a fuel cell, and if what they claim is  true, it is quite an achievement. A fuel cell operating with those principles could be a game changer. But we would need to see the numbers and materials used to really judge this.