EV Battery Converts Waste Energy into Usable Power for Extended Range

A South Korean company, DEOGAM, has introduced an innovative battery technology that has the potential to revolutionize the energy industry. This advanced battery technology employs energy harvesting, a process that captures and converts ambient energy into usable power. Essentially, it allows for self-generation of electricity from sources such as light, heat, or movement.

The DEOGAM battery is essentially an electric energy recycling system that utilizes cutting-edge materials and intelligent engineering to capture energy from its environment through photovoltaic cells, thermoelectric generators, and piezoelectric elements, although some specifics are currently undisclosed.

Originally conceived to address the need for faster charging of electric buses, the company’s solution involves the capture and reuse of energy that is typically lost during travel.

Battery tech undergoes trials in Jeju

DEOGAM is currently conducting a trial of their new battery technology in 500 Hyundai Ioniq 5 taxis in Jeju, South Korea, in collaboration with Korea’s automotive industry. If successful, they intend to implement the technology in European electric vehicles (EVs) by April of next year.

DEOGAM’s pioneering technology has the potential to revolutionize not only electric vehicles but also a wide array of other applications, including wearables, smartphones, and IoT devices. For example, it could facilitate the generation of power from body heat and movement in smartwatches and fitness trackers. In smartphones, the technology could enable screens to function as solar panels, thereby extending battery life.

Furthermore, the technology could lead to self-sufficient IoT devices and smart home gadgets, reducing the need for frequent battery replacements.

The company has effectively showcased its prototypes and is now concentrating on ramping up production and forming partnerships with device manufacturers. DEOGAM plans to integrate its energy-harvesting batteries into consumer products within the next two years.

Energy-harvesting breakthrough enhance recent EV battery innovations

Breakthroughs in energy harvesting, such as DEOGAM’s advancements, are driving a new era of innovation in electric vehicle (EV) battery technology. Recent research by Austrian scientists has revealed that monitoring lithium ions can unveil an additional 25% power capacity in EV batteries.

Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) batteries are renowned for their cost-effectiveness and extended lifespan, commonly used in both electric vehicles and battery energy storage systems (BESS). However, they exhibit a lower energy density when compared to nickel, manganese, and cobalt (NMC) batteries.

Researchers have successfully identified the reasons behind the consistent 25% energy deficiency in LFP batteries. This groundbreaking discovery has the potential to unlock significant additional power by closely tracking lithium ions.

The study revealed that certain lithium ions become entrapped in the cathode’s crystal lattice even when the battery reaches full charge, resulting in reduced capacity. Through their analysis, researchers were able to map the uneven distribution of these ions to a nanometer scale, attributing it to distortions in the crystal structure.