British charging startup Gaussion collects 10.9 million euros
The company, founded by Tom Heenan and +Chun Tan, has set itself the goal of solving the long-standing problem of charging speed, which, according to the company, is still a hurdle to the mass introduction of electric vehicles for passenger and commercial transport. After all, many drivers of combustion vehicles expect that their vehicle can be “refuelled” with electricity just as quickly as a combustion vehicle with petrol or diesel after switching to an electric car.
On its website, the startup explains that its technology could enable battery manufacturers to produce batteries that provide an average electric car driver with a 200-mile (320-kilometre) weekly charge in less than 10 minutes. According to Gaussion, fast-charging batteries with conventional electrochemistry are often unpredictable and can damage the cells, while next-generation technologies such as solid-state electrolytes have (so far) consistently failed to meet their development targets.
Tom Heenan, the company’s CEO, believes that Gaussion’s technology can overcome this challenge: “In many applications, we are observing that efforts to rapidly electrify are delayed or blocked due to the cost of raising the ceiling of battery performance.”
That’s why Gaussion has developed a solution that radically improves battery performance by utilising an external magnetic field during charge and discharge cycles to enable rapid charging by controlling ions within the existing battery cells. The magnetic field also reduces cell degradation and extends battery life. “Whereas magnetic enhancement could provide step-change improvements across all chemistries, formats and applications, affordably unlocking electrification without compromising on cost or performance,” added Heenan.
“Gaussion’s approach aims to expand the solution space by introducing a new variable, rather than displacing or replacing existing technologies,” says Alexei Andreev from lead investor Autotech Ventures. “They leverage the advancements of current battery cell giants and apply an external magnetic field to enhance the performance of established battery technologies without changing their core components. We see tremendous opportunities in a variety of markets.”
With a global portfolio of patents and patent applications, Gaussion aims to revolutionise the battery industry and provide a viable and scalable solution to meet the growing demand for more efficient and powerful energy storage systems. This innovation holds promise for a wide range of applications, including electrification of transportation, construction equipment, mining and residential energy storage.
Dennis Atkinson, an investor at BGF, commented: “Gaussion is an innovative business that has developed a unique solution to one of the most pressing issues in the EV battery space. The strong progress so far, led by an exceptional team, highlights the potential of their technology and we are excited to have Autotech now join the journey.”
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