batteries

This is how the new carbon-based nuclear batteries work-14

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No, you are not having a dejà vu. Nuclear batteries They were on everyone’s lipsafter the Chinese company Betavolt announced the beginning of the production of its batteries. And although it seems a new idea, the first nuclear battery was created in 1954 using Strontium-90. Since then, the search for safer batteries has continued and South Korea has given a new impulse. Short. A group of scientists from the Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute and Technology has developed A nuclear battery that promises to convert radiation into electricity for decades, without the characteristic dangers of conventional nuclear energy. According to Newatlasthe betavoltaic cell sensitized with dye uses beta particles to generate electricity from carbon-14. There is battery for a while. Carbon-14, with a half-life of 5730 years, will guarantee a long-term energy supply, at least in theory. However, in practice, factors such as material degradation and progressive loss of efficiency can limit the real battery life. It is just a prototype. As They have detailed In Newatlas, the battery has a relatively low power density – 20.75 nanovatos per square centimeter by milicur, with an efficiency of 2.86 % -, and the progress opens the door to applications where longevity is crucial. Instead of depending on lithium -ion batteries, very low consumption devices could use this technology and eliminate the need for frequent recharges or substitutions. More technical. The operation of this battery is based on the emission of beta particles from carbon-14, a radioactive isotope that emits high energy electrons. These electrons impact on a titanium dioxide semiconductor covered with a ruthenium -based dye, which causes the flow of electric current. Do you have real application? Scientists They have done An estimate considering sectors where longevity and low energy consumption are key. On the one hand, in the medical field, to feed implantable devices, such as pacemakers and sensors. On the other hand, in remote or difficult access for environmental monitoring stations, allowing continuous functioning for years without human intervention. Also, researchers have observed that integration in microchips, RFID labels and other miniaturized devices, as well as slow load applications, where small capacitors could accumulate energy and free it quickly in demand peaks, would be interesting. Something already existed … At the University of Bristol They have designed A carbon-14-based nuclear battery, but the approaches are different. In the British version, carbon-14 is encapsulated in synthetic diamond, offering extreme durability of up to 5,700 years and greater protection against radiation. The latter, although more expensive and complex to manufacture, is oriented to devices that require continuous operation for centuries, such as space probes or monitoring systems in extreme environments, while the Korean option could be more viable for low -cost applications and lower energy demand. Chinese technology vs Korean. Both technologies, the nuclear battery developed in South Korea and BV100 of betavolt From China, they share the principle of converting radioactive energy into electricity, but they diverge significantly in their approaches and applications. The Chinese battery uses Nickel-63, an isotope with a half-life of 100 years, in a more compact and modular design that promises to feed higher power devices, including drones and industrial equipment. In addition, while the Korean battery is still in an experimental phase, Betavolt has advanced towards marketing. Forecasts. While there is still a way to go to perfect its efficiency and reduce costs, the perspective of batteries that can last decades without recharges completely redefine the way we conceive energy storage and open new possibilities. Image | ACS Xataka | China has the definitive battery. A “eternal” photovoltaic nuclear battery that works in space and in the sea

Just when the batteries were breaking all the records came the ultra-infinity mobiles. China has a lesson for them

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He Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge He has just come to the market. It is a telephone that presumes finishes and whose main argument is in an ultra -launch design that differentiates it from your family brothers Galaxy S25. The problem? Miracles do not exist, and having less space for components translates into a smaller battery. The only solution to get less size to have a decent battery density is to bet on the Silicon-carbona technology that Samsung has not implemented in its EDGE. Result? A high range with 6.7 inches and 3,900mah, A countercurrent movement of the industry. One day of use. Despite the little battery capacity, Samsung promises that its Galaxy S25 Edge will last a day without too many problems. The problem here is that, for a while to this part, the rest of the manufacturers have been obsessed that their phones last more than a day. In fact, today a day of intensive use is a somewhat poor figure. Devices like him Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, iPhone 16 Pro Maxand virtually any high range from China reaches two days of use or, at least, the day and a half with intensive use. There are no miracles in optimization. The phones They are increasingly powerfulits processors are comfortable between the three and the four nanometers and we have been with optimizations in each of the telephone components to minimize energy consumption. But the new bright screens consume energy, the Snapdragon 8 Elite It is something swallow, and have a phone with the ability to record 8K, execute games in maximum resolution at 120 Hz and, ultimately, to pull with everything, spend drums. A countercurrent. 10,000mahit is what has managed to introduce real to a phone with a habitual thickness. Honor already has phones with batteries of 8,000mahand this year it has been clear that even the old 5,000mah barrier begins to fall short. Speaking an Android phone with 3,900Mah is risky, a lot. We are facing a change of generation in batteries. That day and a half is about to become a new scarce figure, and that is that with the democratization of batteries close to 10,000mAh we will have better autonomies than ever. Silicon-carbon is still a face and incipient technology, but China is squeezing to turn it into the standard of its phones. The solution. Xiaomi herself told us that some of its mobiles land with less battery in Europe with respect to China for a simple reason: The costs. These gigantic batteries are not economical, and manufacturers like Samsung bet on traditional technology to contain the price of their devices. Despite this, the only alternative to view if the ultradelgated phones want to succeed is to bet on silicon-carbon, even if necessary to cut in other specifications. Can. The ultra-of the mobile with good battery exists, and we have examples in the Tecno Spark Slim. 5.75mm for a 5.200MAH battery phone. It is an exception, yes, but it is the proof that it is possible to launch phones with large batteries and record thicknesses. They are not alone. The next stone on the road to the ultra-decaded mobiles will put Apple with its iPhone 17 Air. A phone that, except miracle, will also land with a traditional battery of a fairly content size. Image | Samsung In Xataka | Samsung already has the smallest solid state battery. Its objective: revolutionize wearables and energy

Spain has not yet enough batteries for its renewable boom

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The last blackout Monday, April 28 He has evidenced one of the vulnerabilities of the Spanish electrical system: weigh to advance in renewable generationthere is still the same challenge: energy storage. Insufficient growth. Spain has had A renewable boomS, but storage growth has not been able to keep up. Unlike countries like Germany, where Both sectors have evolved In parallel, in Spain it has been left behind. According to the data set out by Spanish Electricity, at the end of 2024 the installed storage capacity It was 3,356mwa very distant figure of the 22 GW target established by the National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan (PNIEC) by 2030. There is still a lot of work. The storage problem in Spain is not only a technical issue, but also regulatory and economic. Both Franc Comino, general director of Sonnen Spainand Manel Pujol, co -founder of Samara Energyhave stated for this medium that the main barrier is the absence of a regulatory framework that offers clear price signals to facilitate the integration of batteries. Specifically, Manel Pujol stressed that The current regulatory framework It excludes the participation of batteries not linked to self -consumption in balance markets, which slows its profitability and hinders its mass implementation. And not only batteries. The Spanish PHOTOVOLTAIC UNION (UNEF) has requested the European Commission to expedite the procedures to implement Grid forming. As has detailed For 20 minutes José Donoso, general director of the UNEF: “To have a more robust system we have to accelerate storage and use power electronics (Grid forming), that it is not yet being used because the European Commission is missing to approve the technical requirements. ” Systems that stabilize the network? Not only exists Grid forming but also the micro -redes. But deepen a little more in the Grid formingor network formation, refers to the capacity of certain storage investors to emulate the characteristics of traditional generators, maintaining the frequency and tension of the system autonomously, According to the economist. This technology allows renewable and storage facilities to function as a virtual “source of inertia”, providing stability in critical moments. It is not the only one. Also, there are the microredes that They represent a distributed model of energy management that combines renewable generation, storage and intelligent control systems. During the blackout, the micro -redes that could operate in “Isla mode” demonstrated their ability to maintain the electricity supply locally, disconnecting from the main system and avoiding collapse, has detailed Franc comino. In this context, Manel Pujol has stressed that the integration of residential batteries is already gaining ground, especially in solar projects, where more than half of the facilities they manage include storage, thus reflecting a positive trend towards the adoption of the distributed model. Financing. The price of batteries It has descended and it is expected that in 2026 the barrier of 100 dollars/kWh will be broken. However, the cost remains a barrier to small consumers, which slows their mass adoption. In addition, less than two months ago, the European Commission approved A aid scheme of 700 million euros to reinforce energy storage in Spain within FEDER funds. A possible solution. Franc Comino has indicated that to accelerate the penetration of storage, tax incentives must be applied: in the residential field through IPR and the industrialist through the Corporation Tax. Thanks to this measures, the initial cost of the batteries could be reduced and thus facilitate its large -scale implementation. For its part, Manel Pujol has stressed that access to public aid and the implementation of tax incentives should go hand in hand to prevent the cost of storage from becoming an insurmountable barrier for small consumers, especially in the residential field. Forecasts The future of the Spanish electrical system will depend on its ability to efficiently integrate energy storage and adopt advanced technologies such as gridforming and micrordes. In addition, Franc Comino has declared that the approved aids will not be enough if it is not accompanied by an extent in administrative processing and a regulatory framework that allows these technologies to be deployed quickly. For its part, Pujol emphasizes that the real challenge is not only in the infrastructure, but in changing public perception about storage and in developing a viable economic model so that the transition is accessible to all consumers. Spain has the opportunity to lead a new energy stage. The question is whether you will know how to move quickly. Image | Unspash and Kecko Xataka | Spain has opted for the plot, but has left the network thrown: how micro -redes fit the energy puzzle

130 meters with batteries equivalent to 550 model and

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The transport network electrification To reduce emissions as much as possible is one of the challenges that companies and countries are facing. He electric car It is what catches us more closely, but where we also see progress is in the electric plane and in him maritime transport sector. And, in this sense, Latin America has taken a giant step with its new 100% electric ferry: the ‘China Zorrilla’. So much that it is already the largest electric ferry on the planet. Enormous. The ferry is a good starting point to start the electrification of the sea. Among its advantages is the Reduction of direct emissionsbut also lower maintenance costs (in theory) and a significant reduction in Submarine noisebeneficial for life in that environment. According to estimates, electrifying the 50 -meter length ferris to cover 100 -kilometer routes would save 50% fossil fuel in this segment, but what the ‘China Zorrilla’ has done is, as we see in MotorpasionDemential. And it is because of its dimensions. It measures 130 meters long, 32 wide and has capacity for 2,100 passengers and 225 vehicles. The ship has just been thrown into the Hobart shipyard in Australia, where it has been built, and the idea is to communicate the Argentine cities of Buenos Aires and Colonia de Sacramento, in Uruguay. It is a journey of about 55 kilometers that will cover three times a day. To batteries. The electrification problem is the same, whatever the vehicle: batteries. The larger and more capacity need, the larger and more heavy the batteries will be. In the case of ‘China Zorrilla’, these batteries have about 5,000 modules with a weight of about 280 tons. It is an absolute barbarity and, to put this in context, its creators They affirmed which is equivalent to batteries of 850 electric cars. It is the largest battery installed on a boat and its total capacity is 40 MWh. Let’s put the battery of the Tesla Model and Long Range with its 78.4 kWh. They are 0.0784, and the rapid calculations is that the ‘China Zorrilla’ has the capacity of almost 550 model and long rage. It is crazy for a 55 -kilometer journey, but in the end it is the ‘price’ of moving such a monster. And the load? Another mocked. It is the big question that may arise. If, despite the advances in speed, loading an electric car already has a considerable amount of time, what happens if we have to load a 40 MWh battery? The answer is simple: High power electroles. Specifically, giant ‘plugs’ that will admit 15 MW charges. The idea is that these loaders are in both ports, being able to recharge during the eviction and shipping of passengers with 24 MWh capacity. In theorythe 20% to 80% recharge will take about forty minutes and it is estimated that the night load pulls renewable energy, especially in the Uruguayan port. Without rival. Due to the type of controlled journeys that make this type of ships, their electrification is a very interesting idea that is already being explored in other parts of the world. In Spain, we have the ‘Barbarian Cap‘, a ferry that joins Ibiza with Formentera and has a battery of just 1 MWh. Is owned by Balearia, a company that is already shaping A much more ambitious project: Unite rate and tangier. There will be two 100% electric ferries with a total capacity of up to 39 MWh that is also provided that are loaded in 40 minutes in the ports and that will have something very interesting to reduce times: arms in the ports that will replace batteries. It will also have diesel support engines in case things are twisted and capacity for 804 passengers and 225 cars. In this sense, the ‘China Zorilla’ seems to continue reigning in the limited segment of electric ferries. And, in case you are wondering, the name of the ship pays tribute to the Uruguayan actress Concepción Matilde Zorrilla. Images | Buquebus In Xataka | The 100% electric plane of beta technologies aspires to be very versatile: it will also have a passenger variant

diurnal solar surpluses, night spikes … and increasingly cheaper batteries

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For years, conversation about the future of Spanish electricity has been reduced to fear of two words: “China photovoltaic”. Panels cheap and reasonably efficient. But the final weapon is not arriving in containers from Shanghai, but increasingly frequently in the van of a neighborhood installer: lithium batteries packs that allow reducing the dependence of the conventional electricity grid. Cut the cable. Or, at least, loosen it. The cheaper that changes the rules Past, present and future of the storage price: 2015: Storing a kilowatt-Hora cost more than 1,100 dollars/kWh. 2024: according to Bloombergnefthe average price of the pack was at 115 dollars/kWh (about 105 euros/kWh), after a 20% drop in the last year. 2026-2027: By then, the same consultant estimates that the psychological bar of the 100 dollars/kWh will be broken. With these prices, Storing domestic energy costs less than the term valley of the PVPC ratewhich now ranges between 0.11 and approximately 0.13 euros/kWh. That makes the battery the natural complement of any roof with panels and a direct enemy of the demand managed by the distributors. To understand the impact of this cheaper on the accounts of the companies in the sector, you have to understand how they earn money. Iberdrola. Its 2024 ebitda, According to its annual resultsit was almost 17,000 million euros, broken down like this: Networks: 6,423 million euros. 38% of the total. Generation and customers: 10,425 million euros. 62%. 52% of Iberdrola’s investment goes to networks, its most stable and regulated segment. Endesa. Its 2024 Ebitda reached 5,300 million euros, with a similar distribution: Electric distribution: 1,750 million (approximately 33%). The rest comes mainly from generation and marketing. Naturgy. With an Ebitda of 5,400 million in 2024: ELECTRIC NETWORKS AND GAS: They represent approximately 45% of the business. The company has increased its investment in this segment by 15% compared to the previous year. For all these companies, Each kilowatt-hora that does not circulate through its networks directly impacts its profitability. Today, the threat is hypothetical, but tomorrow it will be arithmetic. Battery and panel: the combo that takes off According to data from Auto: In 2021, only 2% of residential facilities included battery. In 2024 that figure reached 71%. And they are not just coastal chalets, hybrid kits reach peripheral single -family and even communities of pioneering neighbors. With subsidies and 2.0TD rateamortization drops between 6 and 8 years, and energy self -sufficiency touches 80% in optimal conditions. Electric grid as electron pipe begins to stagger. And not only because of the fall in the demand managed, but because the flow is reversed. In the moments of sun and low demand, thousands of homes are beginning to return energy to the network or simply not need it. For a company that invests billions in transport and distribution infrastructures, that is a problem. But the regulatory framework is starting to move. And your address is not clear. The CNMC has on the table The new toll methodology for the period 2026–2031. Among the Options in consultation: Move part of the fixed costs of the network at the end of power, and begin to remunerate flexibility services, such as storage or coordinated discharge of domestic batteries. They are two changes with opposite consequences: The first penalizes the self -consumer with drums, although he barely consumes. The second rewards it, if your battery helps to balance the network at critical moments. Everything will depend on how normative design is related. And who is heard more. But for now, the government Last the arrival of aid for energy storage through 700 million Feder funds. This transformation is not an isolated case. Several European and American electricity have understood the message before the Spanish. And they have begun to move. Nextera has already hired 81 GW from Solar With storage for 2027, with a good part behind the accountant. That is, in homes. Enel x He has launched virtual power plants pilots (VPPS) In Italy and agreements to display regulated batteries. EDF He is exploring flexibility markets in the United Kingdom and France. In Spain, Endesa has timidly begun to explore this land with its project FlexiCy In Malaga. The background logic is clear: The network will remain necessary, but less as a unidirectional route and more as a smart platform for exchange and balance. And the interesting thing It is not so much the exact point in which we are, but the slope of the curve. According to The International Energy Agencyto meet the objectives set in COP28, world storage capacity It must be multiplied by six before 2030. Of which 1,200 GW must come from batteries. Spain, with its diurnal solar surpluses and nocturnal peaks of consumption, is one of the most fertile land in Europe for that transition. Despite the fear of these years to the threat that came by boat – Chinese plates – the real threat is the one that arrives in a van. In lithium, phosphate and iron packages that allow each home to keep their own energy. In that context, The network business is focused on a transformation: to bill kilowatts to offer guarantees of energy continuity. And there is the key: whoever adapts to the new model will not only resist better. You can also lead it. In Xataka | We have second to second the data on the great blackout in Spain. They complicate everything even more Outstanding image | EcoFlow

While half the world seeks more lithium, some researchers from China have eliminated it from the equation: batteries with bacteria

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The shortage of critical resources such as lithium and cobalt has been being a warningsince they are essential for the manufacture of batteries. However, a group of Chinese engineers have found a solution that does not require mining or polluting processes: it only needs bacteria. The study. Researchers from the Shenzhen Advanced Technology They have developed A battery that works with live bacteria. These microorganisms are electroactive, that is, they produce electricity. So the system uses hydrogels that contain living bacteria To conduct electricity and generate it, in addition within the soft material they are protected. Tangible applications Biobatería has a small size and ability to generate energy autonomously, ideal for integrating into portable devices, especially in the medical field. One of its most promising uses is the precise control of physiological functions such as blood pressure, by directed bioelectric stimulation. In this way, a door opens to new forms of physiotherapy, real -time monitoring and devices that do not require frequent recharge or toxic materials. More technical. Biobatería generates electricity thanks to the activity of bacteria such as Shewanella Oneidensis MR-1, which are contained in a alginate-based gel. The material It can be molded With 3D printers, which allows to design it. Its size of 20 mm in diameter and 3.2 mm high contains: a gel with bacteria that acts as an anode, another gel with a chemical that acts as a cathode, and a special membrane that allows the passage of ions between them. Replaces lithium? Its specific capacity (0.4 mAh/g) and energy density (0.008 WH/L) are lower than those of lithium -ion batteries, this biobatría offers a more sustainable alternative: it does not use critical materials or toxic components. In addition, it maintains a bacterial viability of 70 % during its operation and reaches 97.6 % at the end, which speaks of remarkable stability and efficiency. Forecasts Biobaterías are still far from reaching lithium in capacity or energy density. But what they lose potentially, compensate for it with other virtues: they are recharged alone, they are highly efficient and, above all, biocompatible. These qualities make them especially suitable for very specific uses, such as nerve stimulation, control of physiological functions or the operation of bioportile devices. Image | Unspash and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory – PNNL Xataka | Biological batteries? These bacteria can create a world based on renewable energies

Normal, with solar load and crank. Five external batteries to have the mobile loaded during a blackout

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Behind him Mass blackout That we suffer yesterday throughout the Peninsula, it has become clear that it is convenient to have one or more PowerBank (or external batteries) at home so that at least I can have the mobile with drums. But … which one to choose? In this article we have gathered different external batteries that can be very useful at a time with which we live yesterday with a light cut of many hours. IPOSIBLE WITH SOLAR LOAD by 35.95 euros With coupon, an external battery with solar panels. ANKER LAPTOP by 99.99 eurosan external battery that allows recharging to laptops. Xiaomi Redmi Fast Charge Power Bank by 14.99 eurosa very cheap external battery that has a good load capacity. Wastde with solar load and crank by 59.99 eurosan external battery designed to use it at all times. Anker Zolo by 20.89 eurosan external pocket battery with 30W load. IPOSIBLE WITH SOLAR LOAD One of the most interesting proposals of this list is External Iposible batterywhich is at Amazon at a price of 39.95 euros, although selecting the store coupon stays in 35.95 euros. And it is interesting because its capacity of 26,800 mAh is recharged by solar load, so we can be ready even if we have no light. Comes with four waterproof solar panels that can be folded, includes several USB ports (both USB-C as USB-A and Microusb) and its construction offers water resistance, blows and dust. The brand mentions that the battery offers more than 1,600 load life cycles. * Some price may have changed from the last review ANKER LAPTOP On the other hand, if what we are looking for is an external battery that even allows us to recharge a laptop (useful if the light cut has caught us when we were working), the ANKER LAPTOP It can be a very good purchase option. Costs 99.99 euros in Amazon and is very complete. The Anker Laptop is an external battery that comes with a capacity of 25,000 mAh. Includes three USB-C ports and offers a loading power up to 100Wso you can recharge a good assortment of devices. In addition, it allows recharging up to four devices at once. * Some price may have changed from the last review Xiaomi Redmi Fast Charge Power Bank If what we are looking for is an external economic battery, but also very useful, the Xiaomi Redmi Fast Charge Power Bank Right now it costs 14.99 euros In the official store. In addition, it comes with a capacity of 20,000 mAh, offers a power of 18W. Xiaomi’s external battery comes with a couple of USB-A ports, a USB-C port and another microusb. It also has temperature protectionagainst the short circuits, against overcurrent and also against the overtheions. Xiaomi Redmi Fast Charge Power Bank * Some price may have changed from the last review Wastde with solar load and crank Another of the most interesting proposals of this list is the Wastde external batterywhich comes both with solar load and with a crank. Its price at Amazon is 59.99 euros and stands out mainly for these two reasons: it can be recharged through the solar load or using the crank (very useful for the night). In addition to this, it comes with three output cables (Lightning, USB-C and Microusb) and three output ports (two USB-A and a USB-C). It allows to recharge many devices at the same time, has a capacity of 26,800 mAh and includes a flashlight with three modes: SOS, strobe and continuous. Wastde with solar load and crank * Some price may have changed from the last review Anker Zolo If what we are looking for is an external pocket battery that occupies very little space, the Anker Zolo It can be a very good purchase option. It is located at a price at a price of 20.89 euros And it can be stored practically in any pocket, since its dimensions are approximately 119.9 x 73.4 x 31.4 mm. In addition to this, the external battery offers a 30W load powerincludes an integrated USB-C cable, its capacity is 10,000 mAh and can be recharged in a short time thanks to its 20W power. * Some price may have changed from the last review Some of the links of this article are affiliated and can report a benefit to Xataka. In case of non -availability, offers may vary. Images | IPOSIBLE, ANKER, XIAOMI, WASTDE In Xataka | What do you need (according to the EU) for your survival kit and how much can it cost you? In Xataka | Best Power Bank to load your mobile phone. Which to buy and recommended external batteries

Extract rare land of old batteries without going through China

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The efforts to electrify the world bring with them a growing demand for materials to make batteries. Materials that, to a large extent, depend on China. In full United States trade war against the Asian countrya solution is gaining strength: old battery mining. And a known name, that of JB Straubel, co -founder of Tesla, leads the race with his company Redwood Materials. Context. The world needs more batteries. The demand does not stop growing between the electrification of transport, with more than 57 million electric vehicles in circulation, and the energy transition, which requires large storage systems to compensate for the intermittent nature of renewable sources. The problem, in full tariff climb, is that most of the materials necessary to manufacture these batteries come from China. Especially rare earths, which explains the United States interest in Greenland and the Recent pressures on Ukraine. But these bets to produce materials outside China can take several years. An alternative. Urban mining. There is a huge amount of batteries already imported in countries such as the United States (electric cars, electric scooters, electric bicycles, consumer electronics) that contain a valuable metal mine. These materials can be recovered by recycling, which now seems like a very lucrative business. Unlike plastic recycling, which comes out much more expensive than the virgin material, the high value of batteries metals makes its recovery economically viable. Material redwood. Founded by JB Straubel (Tesla co -founder and one of Elon Musk’s trusted men), Material redwood It is one of the pioneer companies in this field. Your business model focuses on collecting batteries at the end of your useful life and Extract the relevant elements to create new batteries High quality. A few days ago was associated with Limewhich has a gigantic fleet of bicycles and electric scooters, to recycle its batteries. For Lime, whose batteries usually last about 500 cycles (between five and seven years), this alliance not only solves the problem of what to do with the inventory of old batteries, but also reinforces its sustainable company image. Almost everything is used. Redwood states that its recovery rate is up to 95-98% of materials To manufacture new batteries. The scale is significant: in 2024, he recycled 20 GWh of old car material, scooters, electronic devices and production residues; enough to produce about 250,000 batteries for electric vehicles. Together with Redwood, a recycling company, reuse companies have also appeared, Like the Canadian Moment Energy. His proposal is to take advantage of the batteries of withdrawn electric cars that still retain around 80% of their ability to create stationary energy storage systems. Give them a second life. They have collaborated with companies such as Mercedes-Benz Energy and have just received a subsidy of more than 20 million dollars from the United States Department of Energy to build the first “gigafactoría” of battery reuse in Texas. Although the recycling process and the logistics of collection of old batteries remain complex and expensive, the high value of the recovered materials, especially now with geopolitical pressure, is promoting these solutions that transform old batteries into a strategic source of resources or reuse for other uses. “Urban Mining” is a way to skip China and, therefore, a lucrative business. In Xataka | In the middle of the electric car, a Canadian company has smelled money: a battery recycling gigafacto

The 80/20 rule seemed the Holy Grail for mobile batteries. It is not as infallible as it appears

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Scientific evidence points to a clear path if we want to take care of our phone’s battery: keep it between the 80 and 20%. It is a common practice among smartphones manufacturers, but also among some of the most popular electric cars in the market. However, this law is not infallible. In fact, developers of Grapheneosone of the safer Roms in the Android world, they have explained why Google’s operating system occasionally skips this limitation although we have specified in the settings we want. The 80/20 law. It is not something new. He is quite studied That maintaining the battery between 80 and 20% of its capacity minimizes its chemical wear, avoiding load ends. These are the ones that most degrade batteries, so working away from these areas has direct implications on the useful life of our pile. The manufacturers use it. Apple and Google have been implementing time native measures So that if users decide, the phones can limit their load. In other words, if you want your phone not to load beyond 80%, you can leave it scheduled like this to protect your useful life. In fact, this section is usually found in the battery health submenus and load optimization. But they do not always fulfill it for a reason. One of this week’s conversations have precisely to do with this rule. From Android 15 QPR2 Users began to complain that their phones were starting to carry up to 100%, deducting that the battery protection system had been deactivated. On the contrary: this 100% load is more than necessary. The developers of Grapheneosa rom that follows the rhythm of Android Stock updates, have explained why this happens. The reason. Although loads of 20 to 80% are beneficial to maximize the life of batteries, 100% charges are eventually necessary to recalibrate the estimated battery capacity. If all cycles are made without 100%, the reading on the remaining battery will not be accurate. 100% load. Similarly, loading up to 100% is beneficial to challenge the individual cells of batteries themselves. Lithium ion batteries are made up of multiple cells and, over time, some can be downloaded faster than others. When the battery reaches 100%, energy redistributes the load along the cells so that it is equal, something that only happens with the mobile loaded completely and without using for a few minutes. Image | Xataka In Xataka | How to load your mobile as quickly as possible with these tricks

BMW does not want to hear about solid state batteries

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Have an electric car with the Autonomy of a conventional diesel It is one of the objectives of the industry. The technology of the current batteries does not allow that without including huge modules and without harming load times, but there is something on the horizon that promises to fulfill the dream: the solid state batteries that They promise to change the rules of the game. The goal is to achieve the 1,000 kilometers of autonomy and there are already companies like Saic -Dueña de Mg- They claim to have lists. It is not the only one: Mercedes says he has a that already endures those 1,000 kilometers, Byd wants to start implementing Short -term solid state batteries and Honda has just opened a megafactory of 270 million euros to manufacture them. Other greats like Ford and BMW They began to show interest For this technology a few years ago, but it is precisely the current BMW that has launched into the air that, although those of solid state are the future, the current lithium -ion batteries still have much to say. Lithium left kilometers away The interest in solid state batteries is due to multiple factors. They are smaller and light than those of Lithium ionsbut also denser, so they can store more energy. They are also loaded at a much higher speed, it is estimated that it has a useful life of between 8,000 and 10,000 cycles before starting to degrade and are safer because the flammable liquid electrolyte is replaced by a solid one. Toyota the ha qualified as “what can change the future of electric cars” and it is evident that all the main companies have interest in technology. However, in a recent interview To the Middle Autocar, the vice president of next -generation battery technology in BMW, Martin Schuster, has calmed the spirits a bit. Like so many things, money is what the singing voice carries in the passage to new solid state batteries, and Schuster has commented that BMW is eight years after needing to have an option with this battery in the market. “The most important thing is now the lithium -ion battery. It is not finished and improvements are still observed. There is no single definitive battery and will not arrive, but at this time, the lithium -ion battery can constantly improve. ” More than an improvement in performance, the real challenge is to reduce costs. For Schuster, the “main and most important” objective is to reduce costs. The manager commented that they can make solid state battery now, “but the cost makes no sense. There is still a long way to go with lithium -ion batteries. ” BMW is clear that lithium -ion batteries are present and future. A key is to improve on the existing, but above all to lower development and packaging costs Thus, plans such as Byd’s to start riding them in 2027, it seems that they do not fit what BMW has in mind because, in the end, who will pay those first batteries will be the users. “Would you be a customer willing to pay a much higher price for a solid state battery just for a load perhaps a little faster? The price is one of the most important points in the decision -making of electric vehicles, ”he added. Schuster confirmed that his GEN6 battery will be the one they use in the immediate future because they have not observed ways of manufacturing millions of solid state batteries at a low price, with high efficiency, an obvious improvement of quality and a simple integration into current cars. But, of course, Mercedes has that aforementioned battery with 1,000 kilometers of autonomy and from Autocar they asked him about the matter. “They are in a price range that is not competitive,” he replied. “That is the reality today and, when we see that they compete against lithium -ion batteries -in that cost/price relationship -then we will take note,” said the manager. For Schuster’s words, it seems that BMW has a decade ahead To think about the introduction of solid state batteries in their vehicles and Neue Klasse With that battery Gen6 They are the bet of the German house. And these batteries will also be integrated into other models, such as the SUVs, being the X5 of 2026 the first in receiving them. We will see if they maintain that bet at the time when the rest of the brands are launched by those of solid state, since it is not only the traditional marks that are in the fight: The Chinese They are very interested and giant like Huawei either Samsung They are developing their own. Images | BMW, 天然ガス In Xataka | The new great hope to reduce electric cars is sodium (and there are advances to create it)

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