Porsche's battery technology engineers have predicted that in the medium-term, battery technology will improve to the point that 800-mile EVs that take under 15 minutes to charge could be a reality not too long from now.

As originally published in the Porsche Engineering Magazine, specialists from Porsche Engineering spoke about current and next-gen battery technologies and where EVs like the Taycan and Macan EV might be headed in future generations.

Porsche engineers explain why lithium is currently the gold standard for battery tech and its flaws, especially from a safety perspective. One interesting observation was anode optimization, specifically using silicon instead of graphite, as is the current norm. According to Dr. Falko Schappacher, Commercial and Technical Director of MEET Battery Research Center at the University of Munster, silicon anodes could increase battery capacity tenfold and enable charge times of under 15 minutes.

The problem is that silicon can expand by as much as 300% when it absorbs lithium, which could damage the electrodes and reduce battery life.

But the big breakthrough will come from solid-state batteries. By using a solid electrolyte matrix in place of a liquid electrolyte housed in a separator, not only would these batteries be lighter but more compact. And the lack of fluid would make them more stable and less of a fire hazard. "The plan for solid cells is that the classic separator will be completely replaced by a thin layer of solid electrolytes," explains Dr. Stefanie Edelberg, Specialist Engineer Battery Cell at Porsche Engineering. "The solid electrolyte is then both electrolyte and separator in one."

This technology would reportedly increase energy density by up to 50% and result in significantly quicker charging times.

Lithium-based solid-state batteries (SSB) are seen as "a serious alternative to lithium-ion batteries," according to Schappacher.

While many brands are investigating SSBs, and BMW is hoping to test prototypes later this year, there is still no definitive answer as to when these may become viable. However, Porsche still sees battery tech improving rapidly soon.

"In the medium term, we can expect the combination of new anode chemistry and dense packaging of the cells to allow a vehicle range of 1,300 km (800 miles)," says Prof. Maximilian Fichtner, Director of the Helmholtz Institute Ulm (HIU) and Head of the Energy Storage Systems research unit at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT).

Schappacher wouldn't commit to an exact number but foresees a 30-50% increase in range being in the cards. He also foresees fast charging speeds increasing, as do others.

Markus Graf, COO of the Cellforce Group, says, "In today's Taycan, a charging time of 22.5 minutes was able to be achieved when charging from five to 80 percent. With silicon as an anode material, values of less than 15 minutes can be attained in the medium term, and significantly lower ones in the longer term."

This would require new chargers, however, ones with active cooling to enable reliable conduction in power between the charge station and the car, especially for charging rates of over 500 kW to be possible. This may happen with liquid-cooled charge cables, a technology Tesla has indicated will come to its Supercharger network.

EVs are not without their flaws, but lest we forget, battery technology is in its relative infancy, and a few major breakthroughs might change public perception in a big way.