An Israeli company says it has developed technology that can charge a mobile phone in a few seconds and an electric car in minutes, advances that could transform two of the world's most dynamic consumer industries.
以色列一家公司开发出一种新技术,可在几秒钟内完成手机充电,充电动汽车甚至仅需几分钟。这项技术进步可能改变世界上发展最快的两大消费产业。
Using nano-technology to synthesize artificial molecules, Tel Aviv-based StoreDot says it has developed a battery that can store a much higher charge more quickly, in effect acting like a super-dense sponge to soak up power and retain it.
位于特拉维夫市的StoreDot公司利用纳米技术合成人造分子,研制出一款能够更快地充入更多电量的新电池。这就像是一块高密度海绵,能够迅速吸收电力并储存起来。
While the prototype is currently far too bulky for a mobile phone, the company believes it will be ready by 2016 to market a slim battery that can absorb and deliver a day's power for a smartphone in just 30 seconds.
尽管现有的原型体积远超一般智能手机电池,但是该公司相信在2016年将向市场推出纤薄的快速电池,并实现30秒内充满智能手机足以使用一天的电量。
"These are new materials, they have never been developed before," said Doron Myersdorf, the founder and chief executive of StoreDot, whose investors include Russian billionaire and Chelsea soccer club owner Roman Abramovich.
“这些都是从未被使用过的新材质,”StoreDot公司创始人兼董事长多隆-米尔斯多夫(Doron Myersdorf)说道。他的赞助商有俄罗斯亿万富翁、切尔西足球俱乐部的老总罗曼-阿布拉莫维奇(Roman Abramovich)。
The innovation is based around the creation of "nanodots", which StoreDot describes as bio-organic peptide molecules. Nanodots alter the way a battery behaves to allow the rapid absorption and, critically, the retention of power.
这项技术革新基于创新性的“纳米点”(nanodots)。这些纳米点被StoreDot公司形容为有机体间的“肽链”,他们可以改变电池的性能以更快地吸收、更精准地储存电力。
The company has raised $48 million from two rounds of funding, including backing from a leading mobile phone maker. Myersdorf declined to name the company, but said it was Asian.
StoreDot公司目前已经在两轮融资中获得了4800万美元的投资,投资方还有一家未透露名称的领先手机厂商。 米尔斯多夫拒绝透露该厂商的名称,但称这家公司来自亚洲。
With the number of smartphone users forecast to reach 1.75 billion this year, StoreDot sees a big market, and some experts think that -- with more work -- it could be on to a winner.
业内人士预计,今年全球智能手机用户量将达17亿5千万,该公司正是看准了这背后巨大的商机。因此有专家认为,经过更多的研究工作,StoreDot有可能成为行业的佼佼者。
"We live in a power hungry world ... people are constantly chasing a power outlet. StoreDot has the potential to solve this real big problem," said Zack Weisfeld, who has worked with and evaluated ventures in the mobile phone sector globally.
“我们生活在一个对能源饥渴的世界里,人们总是在寻找电力来源。StoreDot有解决这巨大问题的能力,”在全球手机市场从事和进行投资评估的专家扎克-维斯菲尔德(Zack Weifeld)说道
"They still have some way to go, to deal with size of battery and power cycle rounds, but if solvable, it's a very big breakthrough," he told Reuters.
“但是他们还有很长的路要走,以解决电池体积和充电次数的问题。但如果这些问题得到了解决,那么将是巨大的突破。”他向路透社记者说到。
Myersdorf said a fast-charge phone would cost $100-$150 more than current models and would ultimately be able to handle 1,500 recharge/discharge cycles, giving it about three years of life.
米尔斯多夫表示,能够快速充电的手机将比现时手机贵100至150美元,最终能在3年的使用寿命中实现快速充电1500次。
He hopes to use the same technology to create a car battery that recharges in two or three minutes, rather than current models which commonly need to be charged overnight.
他还希望将这一技术推广至电动汽车的领域,在2到3分钟内完成对车辆的充电。当前,要完成电动车的充电往往需要一整夜。
(翻译:菠萝油八戒 编辑:Julie)