The Ontario Battery and Electrochemistry-research Centre (OBEC) fosters collaborative and interdisciplinary research on electrochemical energy storage and conversion materials and systems.
OBEC collaborates with industry and government agencies to develop cleaner, more efficient and environmentally friendly energy technologies for portable electronics, electric vehicles, fuel cell vehicles, portable and stationary backup power supplies, and smart grid systems. These new energy technologies will protect and clean our air, water and soil while improving the competitiveness of Canadian industry and the standard of living of Canadians.
As the hub of electrochemical energy storage research development in Canada, OBEC is expected to attract to Ontario industrial battery manufacturers and cleantech companies that rely on new electrochemical technologies.
News
Breakthrough in EV battery technology pushes the limits of fast charging
Researchers at the University of Waterloo have developed a groundbreaking new battery architecture that enables extreme fast charging of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles (EVs). The innovation paves the way for drivers to consistently charge EVs from zero to 80% in under 15 minutes, a significant improvement from the current industry standard of fast charging which takes nearly an hour and can result in significant degradation of the batteries when done frequently.
Batteries made using this new strategy were shown to undergo 800 extreme fast charging cycles at room temperature, a feat not possible with current EV batteries which limit charging times to prevent degradation and must heat the battery pack to a suitable temperature to be able to charge at maximum rate.
Jeff Gostick is awarded a Fellowship from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
Professor Jeff Gostick was awarded the 2023 Japan Society for the Promotion of Science Fellowship. The Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) offers programs that allow exceptional international researchers to engage in collaborative research with researchers in Japan. This enables discussion and an exchange of ideas.
Chemical Engineering professors make the 2023 Highly Cited Researchers list
Three Department of Chemical Engineering professors have been named to the 2023 list of Highly Cited Researchers. They are recognized as innovative researchers who demonstrate significant and broad influence in their field(s) of research.