Flying cars closer and closer thanks to experiments with lithium-ion batteries | Technology

A team of researchers has achieved an important step on the way to develop flying cars for everyday use.

According to the British media Independent, experts have discovered a way to quickly recharge ultra-dense batteries capable of powering these types of ships.

The specialists, from Penn State University, indicated that advances in electric vertical take-off and landing vehicles (eVTOL) could enable the commercialization of next-generation transportation systems in the near future.

Specifically, the team led by Dr. Chao-Yang Wang, director of the Center for Electrochemical Motors at Penn State University, conducted experiments with energy-dense lithium-ion batteries.

According to their results, they would provide enough charge – in just five to ten minutes – for a vehicle to travel 80 kilometers.

In that sense, they explained that the key is to quickly heat the battery to a certain temperature with a nickel foil, a process that allows ultra-fast charging without causing any damage.

“I hope the work we’ve done gives people a solid idea that we don’t need another 20 years to finally get these vehicles,” he said.

In turn, Wang was pleased to have shown that eVTOL is “Commercially viable” in their research, which was published Monday in the scientific journal Joule.

“I think the flying vehicles they have the potential to eliminate a lot of time and increase productivity and open the corridors of the sky to transportation, ”he emphasized.

The researcher added that, commercially, he would expect these vehicles to make 15 trips, twice a day during peak hours to justify the cost of the vehicles.

Let’s remember that last January General motors joined the flying car race, unveiling its autonomous air taxi design at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in 2021.

The American automotive giant offered few details, releasing only a video of the brand’s vertical take-off and landing electric plane. Cadillac on your digital display page.

Notably, several aviation companies and startups have shown similar flying cars in recent years, although there are no apparent plans for immediate commercialization.