Porsche engineers believe that the ongoing evolution of EV traction batteries will enable manufacturers to expand the driving range to around 1,300 kilometers (800 miles) in mid-term while also reducing 5-to-80% charging time to 15 minutes.
Battery manufacturers are already beginning to replace graphite anodes with silicon ones, which could in theory yield ten times the battery capacity and charging times of less than 15 minutes in most scenarios.
However, the silicon anode has an inherent flaw in that it can expand by up to 300% as it absorbs the lithium from the battery. This unwanted side effect reduces the lifetime of the battery and carries the risk of the electrode losing its integrity.
Another major breakthrough is expected in the solid-state battery industry. Leaving the traditional liquid electrolyte behind allows for smaller, lighter and stabler battery cells that are less prone to combustion. A successful implementation should increase energy density by around 50%.
In order to reduce the 5-to-80% charging times to 10-15 minutes or less, a new design approach needs to be taken towards charging stations. Specifically, the charging terminals need to be able to output 500 kW of power or more. In order to achieve this, the stations themselves need active cooling, and the cables must have in-built liquid cooling as well.
Porsche declined comment on when any of these innovations may find practical implementation.