The Croatian sports car manufacturer Rimac is currently testing a new technology referred to as "nano tubes," which could become a significant source of power for electric car engines, according to the German News Agency report.
Engineers at the renowned Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in the United States discovered, several years ago, a method to generate electricity using fine carbon particles that produce an electric current when reacting with the surrounding liquid.
The engineers explain that the liquid, an organic solvent, draws electrons out of the carbon particles, generating an electric current that can be used to stimulate chemical reactions or to power tiny, micro-scale robots.
Mate Rimac, the CEO of Rimac, mentioned in statements to the British automotive magazine Auto Car that "Rimac is not exclusively focused on electric devices but is presently working on what could be considered the most exciting technology at the moment."
This technique could be executed using unique non-boiling fuel liquids, forming a thin coating layer that covers hollow tubes made of a carbon atom network with distinctive electrical properties, according to one method developed by MIT.
If successful when tested on a broader scale, this technology could replace the current heavy battery packs as an alternative fuel source in existing electric or hydrogen vehicles.
Rimac also mentioned that liquified petroleum gas (LPG), hydrogen, and diesel are among the potential fuel types that could be used with this innovative method of generating electricity.
The Croatian company is cooperating with a startup to test the nano tubes that achieve 80% fuel efficiency for electricity generation on a small scale.
However, the downside to this technology is the emission of carbon dioxide, making it inconsistent with the zero-emission vehicle goals that many governments and automotive companies are striving for currently.
