Electric Cars- Battery Technology Breakthrough?

Three separate energy news items recently hit my in box and has me interested.

The first was a video about an area in the south west of England which claims to hold the secret to the next big energy break through. The presenter couldn’t say too much about it as he was sworn to secrecy. He managed to talk for half an hour without revealing anything other than it was nothing to do with Fracking.

The second news snippet was about a Quantum Glass Solid State Battery invention. I’ve had difficulty in finding a definition of Quantum that I can understand. After looking at many examples I see it as ‘The least to achieve the most’

Here is the Wikipedia definition –

In physics, a quantum (plural: quanta) is the minimum amount of any physical entity (physical property) involved in an interaction. The fundamental notion that a physical property may be "quantized" is referred to as "the hypothesis of quantization".[1] This means that the magnitude of the physical property can take on only discrete values consisting of integer multiples of one quantum.

For example, a photon is a single quantum of light (or of any other form of electromagnetic radiation). Similarly, the energy of an electron bound within an atom is quantized and can exist only in certain discrete values. (Indeed, atoms and matter in general are stable because electrons can exist only at discrete energy levels within an atom.) Quantization is one of the foundations of the much broader physics of quantum mechanics. Quantization of energy and its influence on how energy and matter interact (quantum electrodynamics) is part of the fundamental framework for understanding and describing nature.

Solid-state batteries are predicted to replace the liquid or polymer electrolyte found in current lithium-ion batteries, with a hard conductive material such as a solid polymer or ceramic.

The challenge, however, is in finding such a solid material that is conductive enough to be used in large batteries. This is what the likes of Toyota and Sakti3 aim to solve.

The third bit of information said that James Dyson of Dyson Vacuum Cleaners would be using solid state batteries to power the electric cars he will be producing at his new factory in Singapore. He would not give any details about the solid-state battery technology other than he was very excited at the development potential of his company’s battery.

My imagination can run wild at times, but I think the secret area that is claimed to be the source of the next big energy breakthrough, contains a mineral or raw material that is the secret Quantum ingredient, to make solid state batteries capable of quick charging and be a store of high electric power.

The target must be a battery that fully charges as quick as filling a car’s fuel tank. Such speed would eliminate the present situation of price points per various charging speeds.

The battery should also have the electric energy capacity to deliver the same or better miles travelled per recharge as the equivalent size tank of fossil fuel.

That there is confidence this will be achieved is evident by the rapid growth of recharging points. Some Supermarkets are considering charging points in car parking bays so that customers can top up with a trickle charge while they shop.

Many filling station chains are installing evcharging points alongside petrol pumps. Sat Navs on evehicles give the nearest EV charging points.

Here’s a thought - With the equally big strides being made with self-drive vehicles, I might yet be able to have another car. At my age 92, that will pose some problems. As I would be in charge of the vehicle, I would need a driving licence. But I couldn’t pass a practical driving test, so will a theory test be enough?

A Nissan engineer said a true totally driverless car with no human input is years away from success.His definition of a true 'think for itself driverless car' is one where you ask it to take you to work,and it decides to go to the beach!