#batterytech

[adafruit]

bq25185 + TPS61023 = USB or Solar lipoly with 5V output 🔋☀️🔌

We spent the weekend tweaking our bq25185

https://www.digikey.com/short/8hd2778w

designs and made one basic breakout for this flexible battery charging chip. Then, we made a board with a 3.3V buck output to charge the battery with a USB or solar panel and got a clean and consistent 3.3V out. With both of those working, here's a design for a version that has a 5V booster with the TPS61023

Adafruit MiniBoost 5V @ 1A - TPS61023

This adorable little board will come in very handy whenever you need a good amount of 5V power. It's the size of a linear regulator, but

, which gives a nice clean 1A with a small bill of materials. Now you can use USB, DC, or solar to charge your favorite lipoly or liion chip and get 5V output. Maybe we'll make a version that can handle 3.6V LiFePO4 batteries, too? It's easy to set the bq to handle those by changing a single resistor.

[adafruit]

BQ25185 is a Li-Poly charger with all the fixin's 🔋⚡️🔌

We covered the BQ25185 (https://www.digikey.com/short/z1f5vhzv) on a recent Desk of Ladyada; it's a nice upgrade to the MCP73831 (https://www.digikey.com/short/vpvwfn05) or MCP73833 (https://www.digikey.com/short/32hzp4zp): it has high input voltage support, up to 18VDC, multi-chemistry charging such as for LiFePO4 not just Li-Poly/Li-Ion, power path for separated load supply with 4.5V regulated max out, two status pins, up to 1A output, and solar panel support by tracking the input voltage. It's not much more expensive and saves a lot of extra components. here's a breakout to let us start trying out this chip.

[metaverseplanet]

The Untapped Power of Lightning Strikes

I was sitting by my window the other night watching an insane thunderstorm, and honestly, it drove me crazy. Every time the sky lit up, all I could think was: Why am I watching tens of thousands of gigawatts of free energy just vanish into thin air?

I started digging into this for my Spartans, and I was completely mind-blown by the sheer physics of it. We are landing rockets backwards on boats and building AI that can generate movies, yet we are completely helpless when it comes to catching a spark from the sky.

Here is what makes this the ultimate boss fight for human engineering:

Insane Heat: A single bolt heats the air to 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit. That is literally five times hotter than the surface of our Sun!

The Battery Bottleneck: This is the part that frustrated me the most. Let’s say I build a machine that perfectly predicts where a strike will hit. There is literally no battery on Earth that can absorb 1 billion volts in 30 milliseconds. Standard batteries would instantly vaporize, and a capacitor big enough to hold it would need to be the size of a skyscraper.

It feels like Mother Nature is just teasing us. Imagine if we could harvest even 1% of the 44 lightning strikes that happen globally every single second. We’d have an endless, atmospheric power grid.

I actually put together a massive deep dive on the insane tech being tested right now to solve this—including Swiss scientists shooting terawatt lasers into the sky to guide lightning.

You can read my full breakdown and the science behind it here: 👉 https://metaverseplanet.net/blog/the-unsolved-mystery-of-lightning-energy/

I’m obsessed with tracking these next-gen tech hurdles. What do you guys think—will we ever invent a supercapacitor strong enough to hold a lightning bolt, or is this a sci-fi dream we just need to let go of? Drop a reply, I really want to know your thoughts on this!

[autoevtimes]

From Lab to Road: Why Solid-State Batteries Need an Access Layer to Scale

Solid-state batteries are widely regarded as the next major leap in electric mobility. Higher energy density, improved safety, faster chargi

The journey of solid-state EV batteries depends not just on advanced materials but on building a reliable “access layer” that bridges lab-scale innovation with scalable manufacturing—addressing critical challenges like solid–solid interfaces, system integration, and production consistency that currently limit commercialization. Read this full article by: Parth Pangtey, Founder & CEO, FoundrFuse.

[autoevtimes]

Solid-State Batteries: From Lab to Road

For decades, batteries have quietly shaped the limits of modern technology. They determine how far an electric vehicle can go.

Solid-state batteries are moving from lab breakthroughs to real-world deployment, signaling a major shift in the future of electric mobility. By replacing liquid electrolytes with solid materials, they promise higher energy density, faster charging, and significantly improved safety—potentially redefining EV performance and reliability. Read this full article by: Tanya rashmi Sub-Editor AutoEV Times.

[timestechnow]

Posifa Technologies Introduces PGS5100 Series Hydrogen Sensors

Posifa Technologies introduced its new PGS5100 series of MEMS thermal conductivity hydrogen sensors, engineered to provide early warning

Posifa Technologies, Inc. has introduced its new PGS5100 Series hydrogen sensors, delivering fast and accurate detection to enhance safety in EV battery systems and industrial applications. With MEMS-based design, up to 10x faster response, and a long operational life, these sensors help detect early-stage hydrogen leaks—reducing risks like thermal runaway and improving overall system reliability.

[autoevtimes]

Ambrane Introduces India’s First Semi-Solid Battery Technology for Power Banks

mbrane, has introduced India’s first Made-in-India semi-solid battery technology for power banks. Designed for enhanced safety and performan

Ambrane India is redefining portable charging in India with the introduction of its Made-in-India semi-solid battery technology—bringing EV-grade innovation to everyday power banks. Built on a gel-like architecture, this next-gen solution delivers up to 1.5x higher energy efficiency while significantly reducing risks like overheating, leakage, and fire hazards, ensuring safer and more reliable performance even in extreme Indian conditions.

[timestechnow]

Ambrane Introduces India’s First Semi-Solid Battery Technology for Power Banks

Ambrane, a home-grown consumer electronics brand known for its charging solutions, has introduced India’s first Made-in-India.

Ambrane India is redefining portable charging in India with the introduction of its Made-in-India semi-solid battery technology—bringing EV-grade innovation to everyday power banks. Built on a gel-like architecture, this next-gen solution delivers up to 1.5x higher energy efficiency while significantly reducing risks like overheating, leakage, and fire hazards, ensuring safer and more reliable performance even in extreme Indian conditions.