The highly controversial Swiss company nanoFlowcell created a sensation at the Geneva Motor Show seven years ago with the introduction of an electric coupe called the Quantino. This model may soon be produced in the United States, with an incredible flow battery originally developed by NASA.
nanoFlowcell Quantino 25 // Source: nanoFlowcell
With the advent of the electric car, many new brands appeared, especially Asian ones, which consider this technology as a new Eldorado. Even if many startups in this field are now forgotten, the most respected manufacturers (and often with more resources) are entering the automotive market and are looking to shake up an established hierarchy.
But with the advent of electric vehicles, other companies have been able to do well, including makers of batteries, the centerpiece of an electric car. These include nanoFlowcell, a Swiss company specializing in the research and development of flow batteries.
NEW FROM "OLD"?
The company was known for exhibiting several concept cars in 2014 and 2015, including the Quantino concept, which was unveiled at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show. NanoFlowcell announced something revolutionary at the time with a new battery technology and was originally developed by NASA.
Only since then has there been radio silence. Until today. In fact, nanoFlowcell is making headlines again and has just established a subsidiary in the United States where it intends to manufacture Quantino as it celebrates the company's 25th anniversary. A surprising announcement, because when the concept car was launched, nanoFlowcell indicated that it had no ambitions to become a car manufacturer.
Spectacular inner workings of the nanoFlowcell Quantino 25 // Source: nanoFlowcell
Simultaneously with its establishment in the United States, the Swiss company presents a new model, mainly inspired by the Quantino concept car, called ... Quantino 25. It is a convertible version of the 2015 concept car and is equipped with four electric cars. Here they develop 59 kW each.
The company claims its model can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in less than three seconds, which is equivalent to the performance of a seasoned sports car.
A BATTERY TECHNOLOGY FOR QUESTIONS
Apart from these four engines, as mentioned above, the battery is the most interesting but also the most controversial part. NanoFlowcell has been working on flow battery technology for 25 years, a fairly simple system as it actually contains two tanks of electrolytic fluids.
There is an oxidation-reduction cell in which particles are charged with electricity and circulated through a membrane to generate electricity to drive four electric motors. So far, we can only see benefits, including durability, as nanoFlowcell shows that the battery can last up to 10,000 charge cycles.
However, one of the major disadvantages of this battery is its energy density, which is known since the Quantino 25 has two 125-liter tanks that, according to nanoFlowcell, can drive it up to 2,000 km. An impressive figure, but compared to the high energy density of current electric cars equipped with more conventional batteries, it is nothing out of the ordinary.
nanoFlowcell fights back by also announcing a Canon grant to "fuel". The Swiss company says a liter of electrolytic fluid will cost about 10 cents, or about $25, to refill.
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