When DBM Energy made its record-breaking drive from Munich to Berlin, Germany on a single charge of the KOLIBRI Alpha Polymer battery, there was a lot of skepticism expressed. Even more so when the technology platform, an Audi A2 conversion, was lost to a mysterious fire. Undaunted, the company has moved forward and submitted cells for testing by the German Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM). It has also had the German certification organization DEKRA conduct a range test on the latest converted Audi A2.
The results? The cells stood up to BAM's physical tests – which included burning, high altitude simulation, short circuits and other distresses – quite well. We're talking gold star, A+, definite pass.
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Luckily, the ‘wonder battery’ - a Kolibri alpha-polymer battery pack was not present in the vehicle during the fire, and has been put through its paces at the hands of Dekra, an independent testing organization which works heavily with the automotive industry in Germany.
According to a press release from DBM energy, testers at Dekra ran a converted A2 similar to the one destroyed at the DBM warehouse on a chassis dynamometer and were able to drive the car for a simulated 283 miles on a single charge.
Nikki Gordon-Bloomfield would not write an article saying that the 'Kolibri' battery is real, if it was not. She is a long time EV supporter, and she wouldn't have done this based on flimsy evidence.
Dekra tested the battery. They are a large company, and they test stuff. They would not let DBM get away with using their name if they had not tested the battery.
They have run a second test with a 63kWh pack, in another Audi A2. This time it was able to go 279 miles.
Yes, it takes an immense amount of current to charge it that fast. The point is that the battery is fine when you charge it that fast. So, if you charge it with a typical Level 3 charger, it won't be as quick, but it also won't hurt the battery.
The 99kWh pack only weighs 350kg (~772 pounds), and it fits easily in an Audi A2.
We all have doubts about it, but as time goes on, we have seen more evidence that it is legit.
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