The two biggest disadvantages of electric motors – limited range and slow charging – are likely to continue until battery manufacturers can solve the dendritic problem.
The solution will be worth billions, and a series of startups that are often backed by carmakers cite their early successes. Investors are turning to one of the few listed competitors, QuantumScape Corp., which was worth more than Ford Motor Co. last year.
In the human body, dendrites are extensions of nerves that transmit signals between cells. In lithium-ion batteries, these are small, needle-like deposits of lithium that look like microscopic tree branches. It can grow inside the batteries, leading to short circuits or even fires.
Batteries used in cars today require slower charging, in part because of the risk of dendritic formation. Too fast a charge can cause dendrites to build up. Because the QuantumScape batteries seem to have solved the dendrite problem, they can be charged faster.
“If you can build a better battery, you can build a better car,” said QuantumScape CEO Jagdeep Singh.