Electricians to profit from next-generation batteries

IonQ and Hyundai Motor Company have teamed up to develop unique quantum eigensolver (VQE) variation approaches to study lithium compounds and chemical interactions in battery chemistry. VQE is an optimization algorithm that defines a set of values ​​that will solve a specific optimization problem. The variational principle is used by VQE to calculate the baseline Hamiltonian energy. Due to computational limitations, traditional computational methods are limited in their accuracy.
This partnership aims to create a chemical battery model that can run on a quantum computer to replicate the structure and energy of lithium oxide, with the hope of optimizing the performance, cost and safety of lithium batteries. Many engineering advances will be tested in the next generation of vehicles.

As a result of research EVs may become more accessible to customers.
In an interview with the EE Times, IonQ President and CEO Peter Chapman said batteries are the most complex part of EV development, accounting for half of the total cost of EV production, so they remain more expensive than comparable internal combustion systems. vehicles. “Cheaper batteries would reduce costs closer to the costs of internal combustion vehicles, allowing for faster and deeper applications in the automotive sector. Improved batteries will also make EV more attractive. Many of the most common reasons that lead customers to be unprepared for conversion – limited range, sluggish charging and limited battery life – can be eliminated by upgrading the battery.

Characteristics of EVs

The fundamental difference between an ICE (internal combustion engine) and an EV is really the battery and, as a result, its charging mechanism (electric current against petrol / gas). Unlike typical cars, which use an internal combustion engine and a battery to start and provide on-board services, electric cars use electric motors, a high-capacity high-voltage battery, and a number of transmission technologies.
New electric cars emit less pollution than traditional internal combustion cars. However, in order for them to be truly sustainable, it is necessary to reduce the environmental impact of electricity and battery production. To reduce the environmental impact of electric vehicles, a new generation of batteries with efficient materials that can replace cobalt will be needed in the future.

The range and reliability of electric mobility, as well as its growth in attractiveness will be determined by the new batteries.
“Because both systems are controlled by quantum mechanics, quantum computers are ideal for modeling molecular behavior. Modeling the basic chemicals involved in batteries can help predict the outcome of chemical reactions and can lead to new forms of raw materials, saving time, money and effort to develop batteries in the future, ”Chapman said.

Quantum technology

Keeping the error rate as low as possible is one of the most difficult challenges in developing a quantum computer. Among the several ways to create qubits, the captured ion IonQ has the lowest error rate and the highest number of connections between qubits. The IonQ quantum processor is powered by these atoms in 3D space and is regulated by laser beams to achieve the required stability.

According to the industry, the most significant benchmark for assessing the power and functionality of quantum processors is the qubit count. However, as the number of qubits increases, more accurate and reliable statistics are required. Indeed, fewer high-quality qubits can often perform more than many low-quality qubits, especially if they have lower error rates.

Each qubit in a solid-state system is unique, very noisy, and must be almost completely isolated during computation. This is a disadvantage for solid state technology because, by definition, solid state technology is not isolated. IonQ uses the laser cooling method to keep the atoms stable. This procedure can cause atoms to rest if the laser is set up properly. It is important to note that this procedure does not require refrigeration equipment or complex equipment; all you need is a laser beam.

“We use lasers to our advantage in several different ways. In addition to allowing our system to operate at room temperature, lasers also allow us to customize our system and change the architecture to exactly what customers need. Our laser control software is malleable and can be turned on and off; you can’t turn on and off the physical metal wire, it just is there, ”Chapman said.

The partnership announced today is an important part of Hyundai Strategy 2025’s ambitions, which include selling 560,000 EV per year and providing consumers with more than 12 models of battery-powered electric vehicles (BEVs). In addition, as EVs play a crucial role in achieving global sustainability goals, the alliance represents a significant step forward in tackling the threat climate change.

Electric cars are a more environmentally friendly alternative than modern endothermic engines, which, as we all know, will be phased out in the next few years. To be fully sustainable, road transport must be electrified and supplemented by appropriate measures. This includes investing in renewable energy solutions to speed up energy conversion, and to ensure that cars serve for a long time to compensate for the extra energy needed in the production process.

Like many other batteries, lithium-ion cells that power most electric vehicles are based on raw materials such as cobalt, lithium and rare earth cells that can have serious impacts on the environment and human rights.

IonQ is convinced that it can solve many climate change problems quantum computing. Battery efficiency is one of the most promising new areas where quantum computing can make a difference not only in the automotive but also in the entire grid. IonQ computers have previously been used to demonstrate a through pipeline for modeling large molecules such as those found in fertilizer production.

«As our equipment and algorithms mature, more complex molecules and reactions can be simulated. We start with lithium oxide, but in the future we can expand our views on solid state batteries, energy production in the form of the best solar cells and more. In addition to chemistry, we can also lead to issues such as autonomous management, network charging, logistics, routing and more, ”Chapman concluded.

Please visit the EE Times for the full article

Maurizio Di Paolo Emilio has a PhD. in physics and is a telecommunications engineer. He has worked on various international projects in the field of gravitational wave research, developing a thermal compensation system, X-rays, space technology for communication and engine control. Since 2007, he has collaborated with several Italian and English blogs and magazines as a technical writer specializing in electronics and technology. From 2015 to 2018 he was the Editor-in-Chief of Firmware and Elettronica Open Source. Mauritius loves to write and tell stories about power electronics, wide range semiconductors, automotive, IoT, digital, energy and quantum. Maurizio is currently the Editor-in-Chief of Power Electronics News and EEWeb, as well as a European correspondent for the EE Times. He is the host of PowerUP, a podcast about power electronics. He has contributed to a number of technical and scientific articles, as well as several Springer books on energy collection and data acquisition and management systems.