MIT Fast Charging A Mercury Milan
Leave it to the persistent thinking of engineers and scientists to tackle obstacles most car makers avoid like the plague. MIT students are working on fast charging electric vehicles, EV with very positive results.
The gist is as long as we do not have the proper technology to recharge EVs quickly, mass adoption of electric cars will be slow. Enters stage right, MIT!
MIT, Fast Charging The EV Scene. A few students at MIT, pictured above have found a way to pump some serious electron in a converted 2010 Mercury Milan hybrid. With 7,905 lithium iron-phosphate batteries, they can now recharge in 10 minutes instead of overnight as in the case of most EVs. How did they do it?
Technically Speaking. Where the MIT think tank excelled was to oil-cooling a three-phase 187 kW induction electric motor motor, originally designed for an electric bus. Performance is very on par for the sedan, with a 0 to 60 in 9 seconds, with a top speed of 100 mph at 12,000 rpm. But here is the big deal, a 10 minute charge will get you around 200 miles of driving range! This surely nails the nail on the coffin to those who cling EVs cannot go cross-country.
Where is the catch? The EV needs a 350 kW power outlet for its record charge time. Though charge station makers are working hard to address this with utilities, the EV can also use a standard home outlet for an overnight charge.
Herein lies the crux of the problem. Battery technology is mature enough to handle quick charges but finding electric recharging stations that can handle such a throughput is not at every street corner... yet. Finally, it is the innovative thinking of a few innovative minds that push the limits of what was once thought of as being impossible to overcome. Given enough time, the potential of overheating, due to fast charging will also be overcome, as has been the case with most technology problems. Car makers, can you hear MIT?
For more resource: EcoGeek.
Rapid Transit 2009
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Comments
If a bunch of commie, pinko, greenie-weenie, college kids can do this ...
Just kidding about the commie, pinko, greenie-weenie smear.
Way cool!
I love MIT and I love their "geekiness". They have often brought great innovations to this world.
Agreed,
Nick
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