Range anxiety and long charging times have been the twin obstacles holding back electric vehicle adoption. One of those obstacles may have just been obliterated.
Researchers at the University of Science and Technology of China have unveiled a quantum battery prototype that leverages quantum entanglement to charge an electric vehicle's battery pack from 0 to 100% in just 2 minutes and 47 seconds.
'Classical batteries charge each cell sequentially,' explained lead researcher Dr. Wei Zhang. 'Our quantum approach charges all cells simultaneously through entanglement, making the process exponentially faster.'
The prototype was demonstrated on a standard 75 kWh battery pack — the size used in most popular EVs. The team says the technology could be commercially available by 2029.
Three major automakers — including Toyota, BMW, and BYD — have already signed development partnerships. 'This doesn't just improve EVs,' said Toyota's chief technology officer. 'This makes them objectively better than petrol cars in every measurable way.'