The same technology NASA has developed for use on the International Space Station may also be of use for charging electric vehicles at a fast rate. Research in partnership with Purdue University shows that this technology can charge an electric vehicle in minutes. NASA has developed a cooling technique to help certain electrical systems in space maintain proper temperatures. Known as “subcooled flow boiling”, the heat transfer system can cool cables carrying high charges which potentially allows for a faster flow of electricity without risking overheating, which can often be the case with high electrical currents. This technique can deliver almost five times the current of other EV chargers.
Charging systems will have to provide current at 1,400 amperes if the charging time is reduced to five minutes, as compared to advanced chargers that exist now and deliver currents up to 520 amperes. Most chargers available to consumers support currents of less than 150 amperes. This means that charging systems will require new ways of controlling temperature.
Everyone seems to be chasing disruption in the electric vehicle space, and NASA too is trying to play a part. This kind of charging can help reduce slow charge times and issues with unreliable stations. Increased adoption of EVs will occur when more potential drivers are put at ease by the options for charging – widely available charging stations and speed of charging time. And five minutes sounds pretty darn good.
