Tech Watch: This battery can go 1,600 km on a single charge

From the newsletter

US-based battery company 24M Technologies has developed a next-generation electrolyte that could enable future batteries to last 1,600 km on a single charge and add 300 km of range in under four minutes. Named Eternalyte, the electrolyte’s capability does not require a megawatt charging and significantly boosts battery performance in extreme temperatures. 

• 24M’s new battery technology is the headline innovation in this month’s Tech Watch, a monthly recap of the top technological advancements in the global EV industry relevant to Africa. 

• A battery that lasts longer eliminates range anxiety and significantly reduces the need for fast public charging stations. The lack of sufficient charge points is a major hurdle for EV adoption, especially in Africa.  

More details

• The Eternalyte technology is however still a long way from large scale commercial deployment. Additionally, batteries built with the technology will not come cheap, meaning it will take time before prices reduce enough for the batteries to become mainstream. 

• While the company has yet to reveal full technical specifications, it emphasises that Eternalyte is designed not only to enhance today’s electric vehicles but also to meet the demanding battery needs of the next decade.

• During the period, LG Energy Solution and Toyota Tsusho Corporation announced the establishment of Green Metals Battery Innovations, LLC, a joint venture company focused on battery recycling. The joint venture seeks to establish a battery-to-battery closed-loop system where those raw materials are circulated as recycled resources for new battery materials, advancing a true circular economy in the battery supply chain.

• Another key innovation is the VarEVolt battery, which was recently unveiled by British technology company RML Group. The company was recently given regulatory permission to mass-produce the new battery for EVs. According to RML, the technology enables the battery to fully charge in just 18 seconds. The VarEVolt's modular design lets manufacturers tune it for different applications to focus on range or power or a balance of the two. 

• The race for the development of solid-state batteries, which are deemed the future of EVs, has intensified following the entry of Chinese tech giant Xiaomi. Xiaomi has patented the electrode structure—which is the form of the anode and the cathode—in its solid-state battery, which it claims can deliver 1,200 km of range on a single charge on China's Light Duty Test Cycle (CLTC).  

• Globally, the majority of major innovations in the EV industry are happening in battery technology. Batteries form a central part of EVs, and manufacturers are always looking to make batteries charge faster and last longer at an economical price. Charging is also witnessing major developments, with an increasing number of companies developing technologies to drastically cut charging time.

• The emergence of AI and machine learning are enhancing vehicle intelligence (ADAS, V2X), predictive maintenance, and streamlining manufacturing processes. This behind-the-scenes tech is evolving quickly, revolutionising how users interact with their vehicles.  

Our take

• The LG–Toyota recycling JV is a model worth replicating. African countries should incentivise battery recycling hubs to prepare for the influx of advanced chemistries and reduce dependence on virgin materials.

• Since batteries with new cutting-edge technologies are expected to be expensive at first, governments and financiers should offer targeted subsidies, concessional loans, or carbon credits to early adopters—especially fleet operators and public transport providers.

• To fast-track the development of new EV technologies, governments and development partners could fund demonstration projects using Eternalyte or VarEVolt-equipped EVs in areas with limited charging infrastructure. This would validate performance claims and build public trust in next-gen battery tech.