Why are we not already able to “instant-charge” EVs, smartphones or other batteries?
In: Physics
Batteries are chemical energy storage. When you discharge a battery, there is a chemical change happening inside the battery. As that happens, heat is generated. If you allow the chemical change to happen too quickly, the reaction goes out of control and the battery catches fire.
When you charge a battery, you are reversing the chemical reaction that occurred during discharge. Again, the limiting factor is heat. If you try to reverse the reaction too quickly, heat will build up and the battery will catch fire.
It’s kind of like baking a cake. You mix up the ingredients, and put the cake in the oven at 350°F (176°C) for 30-45 minutes. If you tried to double the temperature and half the time, you’d end up with burned cake batter.
Charging a battery is similar. The chemical changes need time to interact as the battery charges. Going too quickly changes the reaction to something else.
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