Electric vehicles (EVs) are about to get a huge boost thanks to a new battery technology from Korean researchers.
For years, scientists have been working on lithium-metal batteries, a promising alternative to the lithium-ion batteries used in today’s EVs.
The new technology not only extends driving range but also slashes charging times, potentially changing the future of electric cars.
Traditional lithium-ion batteries rely on graphite anodes. While they are reliable, they limit both energy storage and charging speed, making it hard for EVs to go beyond about 600 kilometers on a single charge.
Lithium-metal batteries replace the graphite anode with lithium metal, which can hold much more energy.
In theory, this could allow cars to travel much farther. But there has always been a big problem: dendrites.
Dendrites are tiny, tree-like crystals that grow on the surface of the lithium anode when the battery is charging.
Over time, these crystals can pierce through the battery and cause short circuits, making the battery unstable and unsafe. The problem becomes even worse during fast charging, which is why lithium-metal batteries have long been seen as too risky for everyday use.
Now, a team from the Frontier Research Laboratory (FRL)—a joint effort between KAIST Professor Hee Tak Kim and LG Energy Solution—has found a way around this problem. They discovered that dendrites form because of uneven “stickiness,” or cohesion, on the lithium surface during charging.
To fix this, the team created a new type of liquid electrolyte, the fluid inside the battery that helps ions move back and forth. This electrolyte has a special structure that doesn’t cling tightly to lithium ions, helping the lithium spread more evenly. As a result, dendrites are suppressed—even during rapid charging.
The outcome is impressive: a lithium-metal battery that can deliver a range of 800 kilometers, survive more than 300,000 kilometers of driving, and recharge in just 12 minutes. This breakthrough not only makes lithium-metal batteries safer but also much more practical for everyday drivers.
Industry leaders are excited. Je-Young Kim, CTO of LG Energy Solution, said the four years of collaboration with KAIST are paying off and paving the way for the next generation of batteries. Professor Hee Tak Kim added that the work solves one of the biggest technical barriers to bringing lithium-metal batteries into electric vehicles.
If adopted widely, this technology could mean EVs that charge almost as quickly as filling up a gas tank, while offering longer range and better performance.
It’s a glimpse into a future where switching to electric doesn’t mean compromising on convenience.
