Responsible Asset Owners Global Symposium

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On the cusp of a major revolution.

Adrienne Lawler

No, not just Elections. Electric vehicle charging times are on the cusp of a major revolution. Recent advancements in battery technology have brought us closer to achieving charging speeds that rival gasoline vehicles.

Recent advancements in battery technology have brought us closer to achieving charging speeds that rival gasoline vehicles. A UK-based startup, Nyobolt, has successfully demonstrated their ultra-fast charging battery that can replenish a car's battery from 10% to 80% in just under five minutes. This is a significant leap from the current industry standard of 15-20 minutes for fast chargers or more commonly, for most people (like me) the car is plugged in overnight ++ to get to the reassuring figure of 98% charged.

Experts believe that faster charging times are key to overcoming "range anxiety," a major hurdle towards widespread electric vehicle adoption. With shorter charging times, electric vehicles become a more practical option for long-distance travel.

While this technology is promising, it's important to consider that widespread adoption will depend on the development of supporting infrastructure. Public charging stations will need to be equipped with powerful chargers to accommodate these fast-charging batteries.

Although Dr. Sai Shivareddy was trying to keep his nerves under wraps during the test, he is not the only one with skin in the game as Nyobolt was founded by two key individuals with eye watering funding raised to turn their dream into reality:

* Professor Dame Clare Grey, a Chief Scientist and co-founder, is a renowned expert in materials chemistry at the University of Cambridge. Her research focuses on developing new battery materials.
* Dr. Sai Shivareddy, the CEO and co-founder, has dedicated his career to finding solutions for energy storage and retrieval. He leads the commercialization efforts for Nyobolt's fast-charging battery technology.
* Nyobolt has successfully raised a total of $70.7 million in funding over three rounds. This indicates strong investor interest in their fast-charging battery technology.ogether, their expertise has been instrumental in bringing us closer to the reality of superfast electric car charging.

It's difficult to quantify the exact monetary value of being an early investor in Nyobolt as the company is still private and hasn't gone public yet. Typically, the potential returns for early-stage investments can be significant, but they also carry a high degree of risk.. However, the company's technology has the potential to revolutionize the electric vehicle industry by significantly reducing charging times. This could lead to a surge in demand for Nyobolt's batteries, making it an extremely valuable company.

Here's a rough estimate of investment needs based on charging type:

  • Level 2 AC Charging: Expansion costs are relatively lower, focusing on adding charging points (potentially a few thousand dollars per station).

  • DC Fast Charging: Investment needs are higher, ranging from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands per station depending on power output and additional features.

  • Ultra-Fast Charging: These stations require the most significant investment, potentially exceeding a million dollars per station due to advanced technology and grid upgrades.

Overall, estimates suggest that the global transition to faster charging infrastructure could cost trillions of dollars over the next decade.

Here are some resources for further exploration:

  • Up to 90% Failure Rate: This is a widely cited statistic, suggesting a very high number of early stage investments don't reach their full potential [1, 2].

  • Breakdown by Year: Failure rates tend to be highest in the first few years. Studies suggest around 20% fail within the first year, with numbers climbing to 50% by year five, and reaching even higher percentages over a longer timeframe [3].

  • Nuances and Variations: It's important to consider these are general figures, and the actual failure rate can vary depending on factors like industry, investment type, and geographical location.

Here are some sources for further exploration: