China, known as the largest producer of electric vehicles and a leader in lithium battery technology, has achieved a breakthrough in the development of a revolutionary lithium battery. This new battery design has a record power density and can release all its energy in just 12 to 36 seconds, with a full charge in just three minutes. This innovation is a game changer for the defense industry as it can be used as a lightweight and compact power source for high-energy weapons.
The battery, known as battery 40165, has a C-rate of 100C to 300C, allowing for rapid charging or discharging. The battery was developed using existing manufacturing equipment and a mature raw material supply chain, making it suitable for mass production at a relatively low cost. It has the potential to be used in weapons such as high-energy electromagnetic cannons, subsonic weapons, electromagnetic launchers, laser weapons, and active phased array radars.
Chinese naval scientists are already building futuristic weapons, including the world’s most powerful war radar and a missile-sized projectile that can reach high speeds instantly with the world’s largest electromagnetic coil. These weapons require a power source that can release a large amount of energy quickly, which the new lithium battery can provide.
The development of this powerful lithium battery is an innovative engineering achievement. It reduces the size and weight of existing power sources for weapons by two-thirds and has a lifespan of up to 8,000 recharge cycles. The China Automotive Engineering Research Institute was deeply involved in the development, testing, and production of this new battery.
This technology not only has applications in the defense industry but also in heavy-duty vehicles that require a lot of power. The new lithium battery could transform the way energy is stored and used in various sectors. China’s dominance in electric vehicle production and batteries positions it as a key player in the future of energy storage and high-energy weapon systems.
Definitions:
– Lithium battery: a type of rechargeable battery that uses lithium ions to move between the positive and negative electrodes, allowing for energy storage and release.
– Power density: the amount of energy that can be stored and released per unit volume or weight of a battery.
– C-rate: a measure of the rate at which a battery charges or discharges completely. A 1C rate means that a battery takes one hour to discharge from 100% to 0%.
– Electromagnetic cannons: weapons that use electromagnetic forces to launch projectiles at high speeds.
– Subsonic weapons: weapons that travel at speeds below the speed of sound.
– Electromagnetic launchers: devices that use electromagnetic forces to launch objects, such as projectiles or aircraft.
– Laser weapons: weapons that use laser beams to damage or destroy targets.
– Active phased array radars: radar systems that use a large number of individual antennas to rapidly steer the radar beam electronically for tracking and surveillance purposes.
Sources:
– China’s July vehicle exports soar 63 per cent, widening lead over Japan
– Scientists shrink China’s Starlink-killing weapon with new power source
– China’s top naval scientist proposes a Star Wars-style ‘supership’
– Chinese navy says it’s testing the planet’s most powerful coil gun
– China’s excessive EV battery capacity could force small players to fold