The team of scientists at Edith Cowan University (ECU) in Australia has found that zinc-air batteries could be a better option than lithium-ion batteries for powering EVs.

These new types of batteries consist of a negative electrode made of zinc and a positive electrode made of air. Since they have a higher energy density than lithium-ion batteries, zinc-air batteries could store more energy in a smaller space, potentially making them capable of powering EVs for longer distances.

Until now, their use has been limited due to the poor performance of air electrodes and their short lifespans. However, researchers could have found a solution. 

The ECU team said it was able to enhance the performance of zinc-air batteries by incorporating new materials such as carbon, iron and cobalt-based compounds into the battery design.

The result was a battery that delivered a high peak power density of 228 mW cm^-2 and a low voltage gap of 0.77 V, as well as an ultra...