Several auto suppliers view the material graphene as a potential game-changer for electric vehicle battery technology, shortening charging times while increasing range and performance.
But it might be years before the durable and ultralight material can be used in EV batteries, said Conrad Layson, alternative-propulsion analyst at AutoForecast Solutions.
"Is it a potentially wonderful substance to use? Yes," Layson said. "But the cost of getting a sheet of graphene together, and the labor it takes, is astronomical."