Latest news with #24MTechnologies
Forbes
13-07-2025
- Automotive
- Forbes
24M Technologies Could Make Electric Vehicle Battery Fires Less Likely
Electric vehicle fires are less likely, but they can happen in more dangerous places like garages. The media war against electric vehicles goes through phases, with different attack strategies coming to the fore and others receding. But one fear that continually enflames enragement is the possibility of EV battery fires. Despite the statistics showing that these are far less likely to happen than with cars powered by fossil fuel, they do tend to last longer and are harder for firemen to extinguish. But 24M Technologies reckons it can significantly reduce the incidence of EV battery fires. I talked to the company's CEO Naoki Ota and President Ulrik Grape about how their technologies could improve battery safety, as well as delivering better performance and recyclability. Battling EV Fire Disinformation With 24M Technologies There is a lot of disinformation about EV battery fires, or at least misleading framing. One British publication noted that in the UK electric car fires had grown from 131 in 2022 to 232 in 2024 – a rise of 77%. However, the number of EVs on British roads had risen from 664,148 in 2022 to 1.3 million in 2024 – a 96% increase. So overall EVs have become safer. There were 18,313 fossil fuel vehicle fires in the UK in the UK in 2024, 79x more than EVs fires, but there were only 26x more fossil fuel cars, so combustion cars were nearly three times as likely to catch fire. Nevertheless, any vehicle fires are problematic. Just one incident can endanger life and necessitate an expensive manufacturer recall even if nobody got hurt. 'EVs are safe, but there are incidents happening, and as you get more and more vehicles on the road, there's going to be more and more fires,' says Grape. 'In today's social media, it's going to get escalated. EV fires are much less frequent than combustion engine vehicle fires, but they are more volatile. They also tend to happen when you're charging the vehicle, so then you have a risk to garages and being close to your home.' Dendrite formation is the big danger for battery fires as cells age This is where the design of the cell becomes important. 'The more cycles a battery has, the more dendrites grow, and the more likely it is to be dangerous,' says Ota. This is like combustion engines, which are also more likely to catch fire when older. 'EVs have been around less time, with even the oldest just ten years old. But people drive cars for 15 or 20 years. Also, as you put more energy density in a battery, it becomes more dangerous.' However, more manufacturers are switching from Nickel Manganese Cobalt (NMC) battery chemistry to Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP), which is already safer due to lower susceptibility to thermal runaway. BYD, for example, exclusively uses this technology. However, the safety still decreases as energy density increases, and the roadmap is steep particularly from Chinese companies. The classic demonstration of LFP battery safety involves driving a nail through a pack, which can cause immediate conflagration with NMC batteries, but this is less likely with LFP. However, 24M doesn't see this as a realistic scenario. 'This doesn't represent a real internal short circuit,' says Ota. 'An internal short circuit is a very narrow area than a thick nail, producing a much higher temperature.' Enter Impervio: 24M Technologies' Battery Safety Superhero The technology 24M offers to combat this is called Impervio. 'Impervio is a three-layer separator,' says Ota. The separator is the membrane between the anode and cathode, which allows lithium ions to pass through but prevents a short circuit. The short circuit problem comes when dendrites form from the anode side. If they reach the cathode, they cause an internal short circuit that can lead to a battery fire. Impervio's third layer actively blocks dendrite formation and detects potential short circuits so they can be dealt with before they become dangerous, via cell replacement. 'When a dendrite reaches the impervious layer, it doesn't grow vertically from anode to cathode. It grows horizontally and in the end is dissolved, so it never gets to the cathode. This doesn't add a lot of cost. We can utilize the existing separator. It's like ceramic coating.' The extra middle layer of Impervio prevents dendrites growing from the anode to the cathode Just a few car fires can cause a company to recall all potentially affected vehicles, costing billions, because they can't detect which cars will fail. Ota likens Impervio to an airbag – you might never have to use it, but it's worth having just in case. 'When an internal short circuit happens, it goes in milliseconds,' says Grape. 'Once it starts, you can't stop it from the outside. The only other method being tried is containment, packaging something around the cell. The uniqueness of the Impervio separator is that it can tell you this cell has to be shut down because it's approaching a dangerous level. Back in the 60s, the seatbelt was introduced that made car passengers safe. Then we added the airbag to make them even safer. That is the message with Impervio. We're getting to such a high energy density in the cells that there are risks of contaminations. Impervio provides protection that allows you to do more targeted recalls versus all the cars of a particular model.' Portfolio Of 24M Technologies For Batteries In 2010, 24M Technologies was spun off from MIT by its founder, professor Yet-Min Chang. The lithium-ion flow battery was his original technology. Kyocera has been a strategic investment partner for five years, helping this to develop into a SemiSolid battery cell. Since then, Volkswagen took a 25% stake in 24M Technologies in 2022, leading to the development of more new technologies such as Impervio, addressing areas of energy density, low temperature performance, rapid charging, recyclability and safety. One technology is called ETOP, standing for Electrode to Pack. This bypasses the traditional cell-to-module-to-pack assembly. Instead, the pack is built from the electrodes directly. This provides a significant increase in energy density and goes further than the cell-to-pack systems being developed by Tesla, BYD and CATL. 'We're taking it one step further by making a unit cell, which is basically two or three electrodes, so the anode and the cathode are packaged in a unique way, and then we can build the pack from there,' says Grape. 'We eliminate the module stage.' This increases packaging efficiency from 60% to 70-80%. 'You can either pack more energy into the same volume or make a smaller pack that contains the same driving range.' Eternalyte makes lithium ion flow 4x faster at -10C Another 24M technology is called Eternalyte, which is a new electrolyte that improves battery performance. Using Eternalyte, Lithium ions in a battery can move twice as fast at room temperature and four times as fast at -10C, dramatically improving battery charging times and enabling six-minute recharging from zero to 80%. 'Zero to 60% would probably take two to three minutes,' says Ota. 'If the car can drive 600 kilometers, within two minutes you can add 360 kilometers, so it's very close to gasoline.' Eternalyte also remains liquid at -40C, unlike traditional electrolytes, so poor cold weather EV performance and range would be a thing of the past too. Lithium Forever is a little different. This is about the end of life for batteries and their recycling, particularly LFP, which can be so cheap to manufacture that recycling them isn't cost effective. 'Traditional recycling takes the old battery and melts it or uses chemicals to create a big 'black mass'', says Ota. 'Then they try to extract expensive metal only. Iron is a cheap material, and they don't want to even extract aluminum.' This is why LFP batteries are less likely to be recycled. Many batteries are too cheap to manufacture for recycling to be cost effective 'They only recycle 10 to 20% at the moment,' says Grape. 'That's why we need to think of avoiding the black mass process.' Batteries must be designed with recycling in mind so their component elements can be separated again. No polymer binder is used with Lithium Forever, enabling over 90% of materials, including active substances from the anode and cathode, to be recovered without the costly and energy-intensive black mass process. This makes LFP economically viable to recycle, too, and the materials recovered pure enough for reuse in new batteries. The process can reduce active material recovery costs from $20-30 per kg to $2-3. 'Now we can recycle very pure copper and aluminum,' adds Ota. The 24M Technologies SemiSolid batteries are already being manufactured by Kyocera, currently aimed at its Enerezza residential storage system. Kyocera has also commercialized Lithium Forever. There are 24M partnerships in China and India. Some big names that Ota and Grape couldn't mention are testing Impervio and Eternalyte. The 24M Technologies' systems have potential to improve the experience of battery electric vehicle ownership in many areas, but Impervio is the one that is likely to help combat public perception of BEVs and the ongoing misinformation. 'LG and Samsung had big recalls,' says Ota. 'If they used Impervio, they wouldn't have had to recall because they could just replace the failed cell. They could save lots of money.' If battery fires almost never happened, this would also mean one less argument for the anti-BEV media war.
Yahoo
12-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Company unveils head-turning EV battery that can fully charge in under 20 seconds — here's how it could impact the future of cars
Consumers are increasingly choosing electric vehicles for their next cars. In fact, some optimistic estimates forecast that electric cars could make up 50% of all vehicle sales in the United States by 2030. There are many factors contributing to this massive surge in popularity, but rapidly developing technology is certainly helping. One such mind-blowing innovation was just announced in the field of electric car batteries. A United Kingdom-based company, RML Group, just unveiled its VarEVolt battery pack, according to Interesting Engineering. Incredibly, the battery pack touts the ability to be fully charged in just 18 seconds. In even better news, the quickly charging battery pack also allows the cars to drive long ranges at high speeds. And this is only the latest incredible technological breakthrough in the field of electric vehicles and batteries. 24M Technologies recently unveiled a car battery that can provide 1,000 miles on a single charge. And researchers at the National University of Singapore are developing a battery that lasts 10 years longer than current ones. These types of technological innovations help take away some of the fears of switching to electric cars. Quick-charging batteries with long ranges operate just as good as traditional gas guzzlers without the negative effects. Electric vehicles are great for a variety of reasons. First and foremost, they save consumers money. Drivers don't have to spend their hard-earned cash on expensive gasoline. The maintenance requirements are much cheaper than traditional combustion engine vehicles. The environmental benefits are also substantial. Traditional vehicles burn gasoline, which releases lots of pollution into the atmosphere. This leads to rising temperatures around the globe and health threats to all living things. But since electric vehicles don't burn gas, they help cut down on air pollution. One way to reduce your environmental footprint is by charging your electric vehicles using solar power. This will also significantly reduce your charging costs. And it is now easier than ever to install solar panels thanks to EnergySage. Its free online tool provides quotes from vetted contractors so that consumers can make the best personal decision. The VarEVolt battery is now being prepped for mass production. RML Group also plans to work on a conversion kit so that their batteries can be used in older vehicles. If you were going to purchase an EV, which of these factors would be most important to you? Cost Battery range Power and speed The way it looks Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Daily Mirror
27-06-2025
- Automotive
- Daily Mirror
Brits with EVs to charge their car much faster following huge breakthrough
A game-changing technological advancement could see the batteries in electrical vehicles (Evs) charge significantly faster and last longer - luring even more Brits to make the eco-friendly switch UK motorists whizzing around in electric vehicles (EVs) could soon see a huge battery boost thanks a major tech breakthrough. The innovation comes from 24M Technologies — the American battery specialists have developed a new electrolyte called Eternalyte, which holds the key to this amazing advancement. This new material is responsible for how quickly ions move between the battery's two main parts, the anode and cathode. The faster these ions can move, the faster the battery can charge. Eternalyte can achieve up to three times the ionic conductivity of standard electrolytes. In simpler terms, this means ions can travel much more quickly inside the battery, speeding up the charging process without sacrificing the energy storage capacity. 'I've had an EV for one year and small feature still scares me - it's not range' Thanks to this leap in conductivity, 24M says batteries using Eternalyte can charge four times faster than conventional ones, allowing drivers add over 300 kilometres of range in under four minutes, without needing ultra-powerful megawatt charging stations that are not yet widely available in the UK and Europe. This means our existing charging infrastructure will be enough to deliver these rapid charging times. Another big advantage of Eternalyte is how well it performs in cold weather. At 0°C, regular EV batteries can lose around 25 per cent of their capacity, while at even lower temperatures, they may lose nearly all of it. On the other hand, Eternalyte keeps nearly all its capacity at 0°C and still holds more than 80 percent at -40°C. This addresses a major frustration for EV owners in winter, as well as those who live in colder parts of the UK — where battery range and performance can drop sharply in freezing conditions. President and CEO of 24M Technologies, Naoki Ota, explained: "24M's Eternalyte electrolyte breakthrough solves some of the biggest challenges of lithium-ion batteries today. "Rapid charge, superior low-temperature performance and great cycle life with lithium-metal and other high energy density chemistries, Eternalyte provides outstanding performance for applications ranging from EVs to consumer products. It paves the way for next-gen batteries, including lithium metal, with 1,600-kilometre driving range and years of reliable performance." Originally designed for lithium metal batteries, Eternalyte is also suitable for the silicon and graphite-based batteries found in most EVs today. It can be integrated into current battery manufacturing processes, so car makers could adopt the technology without major changes to their factories. When paired with 24M's Impervio separator, Eternalyte also makes batteries safer and extends their lifespan, helping to prevent dangerous problems including battery fires. So, this brilliant breakthrough could soon make EVs much more convenient for British drivers, with ultra-fast charging and reliable performance whatever the weather — and all without needing to wait for new and improved charging stations to be built.
Express Tribune
21-06-2025
- Automotive
- Express Tribune
Breakthrough Battery Tech Promises 1,000-Mile EV Range and 190-Mile Charge in Under Four Minutes
24M Technologies, a US-based battery firm, says it has developed a next-generation electrolyte that could dramatically improve the range and charging speed of electric vehicles (EVs), while performing reliably even in extreme temperatures. 24M Technologies has unveiled 'Eternalyte,' an advanced electrolyte it claims delivers a step change in ionic conductivity — the key factor in how quickly a battery charges and discharges. The company says the breakthrough could power future lithium metal batteries capable of over 1,000 miles of driving range and add 190 miles of charge in under four minutes. Unlike some cutting-edge battery technologies that require overhauls to charging infrastructure, 24M claims its solution does not rely on high-cost MegaWatt charging stations. Instead, Eternalyte enables ultra-fast charging using today's setups. 24M Technologies has announced a breakthrough in battery innovation with the launch of Eternalyte, a next-generation electrolyte that enables ultra-fast charging and exceptional cold-weather #battery #Eternalyte #electrolyte #EV @24M_Tech — Batteries & Energy Storage Technology magazine (@BESTmag_news) June 18, 2025 The electrolyte also promises to solve one of the most persistent EV concerns: performance in extreme cold. According to test data shared by 24M, the battery tech retains full capacity at 0°C and more than 80% at -40°C, addressing winter-related range drops that plague many current EVs. Eternalyte is compatible with a range of battery chemistries — including lithium metal, silicon and graphite-based cells — and can be integrated into existing manufacturing processes, reducing adoption costs for producers and automakers. 24M Technologies, which has largely operated under the radar, is now positioning itself at the forefront of next-gen EV development — offering a potential breakthrough without demanding widespread infrastructure changes. Though the company has not revealed full technical details of Eternalyte, it claims the solution is designed not just for today's EVs but for the battery demands of the next decade.
Top Gear
19-06-2025
- Automotive
- Top Gear
A company is developing a fancy electrolyte to charge EV batteries four times faster
Electric A groundbreaking thing might have just happened for electric car batteries Skip 3 photos in the image carousel and continue reading A company called 24M Technologies has created an electrolyte called Eternalyte that it reckons will revolutionise the way electric car batteries work. Big claims, but it might be onto something. Rather than switching out to a solid-state electrolyte, this special sauce (the recipe for which is kept under wraps) makes the ions move between the anode and cathode more quickly and at a greater rate. Advertisement - Page continues below The result? A charge rate four times faster than conventional batteries, giving around 186 miles of juice in less than four minutes, using – get this – standard charge points. Yup, there's no need for ultra-fast charging infrastructure. Granted, 24M's own spec sheet states the gravimetric energy density of the battery cell is 350Wh/kg, and Merc's working on solid-state batteries with 450Wh/kg power density. Still, 24M's proprietary liquid electrolyte has other cool properties, literally. Where cold weather can reduce current battery capacity by about 25 per cent at freezing point, the boffins at 24M reckon Eternalyte helps a battery maintain all of its usability at 0°C and more than 80 per cent capacity if you get down as low as -40°C. Since we haven't any polar expeditions planned, we'll take their word for it. You might like Eternalyte has been developed for lithium-ion batteries, but the laboratory tests have shown similar results in lithium-metal, silicone-based and graphite-based batteries, too. There's also improvement in the battery lifecycle. Naoki Ota, 24M Technologies boss, said: "24M's Eternalyte electrolyte breakthrough solves some of the biggest challenges of lithium-ion batteries today. Rapid charge, superior low-temperature performance and great cycle life with lithium-metal and other high energy density chemistries, Eternalyte provides outstanding performance for applications ranging from EVs to consumer products. It paves the way for next-gen batteries, including lithium metal, with 1,600-kilometer driving range and years of reliable performance.' Advertisement - Page continues below Almost 1,000 miles on a single charge sounds like progress, right? Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Look out for your regular round-up of news, reviews and offers in your inbox. Get all the latest news, reviews and exclusives, direct to your inbox.
