What if rather than fitting a bulky, enormous battery somewhere between the trunk and the backseat, an electric car’s battery was simply the doors? Or the roof?
This is the idea behind research from Imperial College London, along with several European partners that include Volvo. Scientists are developing a prototype composite material that can store and discharge electrical energy but is also strong and lightweight enough to be used for actual car parts.
This could allow electric and hybrid vehicles to drive farther and more efficiently than ever before. The benefits would not stop there, though, because the material could be used for anything from a cell phone to a laptop computer.
Because the material — a composite of carbon fibers and polymer resin patented by Imperial College — does not use a chemical process to discharge energy, it could also mean faster recharging time.
The project is still in its early stages, but Volvo is investigating how to start by replacing a metal wheel well with one built of the composite material. The automaker believes this could reduce the number of batteries needed to power an electric motor and reduce EV vehicle weight by 15%. And it would be a lot harder to get a ding in.
