NanoFlowcell

QUANT FE premiere at the 2016 Geneva International Motor Show

Quantino at the 2019 Top Marques Monaco

Under the name QUANT (derived from quantum mechanics), nanoFlowcell Holdings is developing applications for its nanoFlowcell flow cell technology, mainly electric vehicles such as the QUANT E, QUANT FE and Quantino. The Quantino is the latest electric prototype vehicle produced by nanoFlowcell engineers for their battery testing purposes. The road-legal version of the Quantino was first introduced at the Geneva International Motor Show in 2016, together with its more powerful sibling QUANT FE.[13][14]

The Quantino and QUANT FE prototype vehicles have been used for technology presentations towards the automobile industry in 2016 to further demonstrate the use and advantages of flow cell technology in electric cars. Several journalists who drove Quantino and QUANT FE in public testings confirmed functionality of the nanoFlowcell's flow cell technology.[15][10][16] The Quantino allegedly has been using 12 kWh per 100 km in a mixed test.[17]

Similar to regular modern redox flow cells, nanoFlowcell is producing electricity from liquids. However, the electrolyte is not common salt water as commonly stated in several internet forums, but the electrolyte solution bi-ION consists of a conductive liquid - organic and inorganic salts dissolved in water - and the electrolytes themselves, nano-structured molecules which are specific molecules designed by nanoFlowcell Holdings Ltd. While dissolved redox salts are responsible for the energy transfer in conventional redox flow batteries, the bi-ION electrolyte is an energy storage medium whose suspended nano-particles permit a considerably higher energy density than regular redox electrolyte liquids.[18]

European R&D institutes are doubting nanoFlowcell's technological progress with flow cells, while in the USA several R&D institutes announced their breakthrough with similar flow cell designs for electric vehicles.[19][20] Regarding the propulsion Top Gear concluded: "But while American universities say they find nanoFlowcell’s technology plausible, European institutions have poo-pooed it."[10]

The Quant 48Volt delivers 560 kW at 48 V, with 140 kW going to each motor.[21] This means the current going to each motor is equal to 2917 Amps which would heat up the cables dramatically. Porsche, by comparison, saved 66 pounds by going from 400V to 800V and is able to keep the motors cooler by going to higher voltages with greatly reduced currents.[22]

The founder, who does not have any formal education in engineering or similar background and has bought a PhD title, has previously been accused with defrauding an older lady by having her invest in non-existing solar panel technology.[23][24][25] On the website "jalopnik" Dr. Stephen Granade points out that, at the time of writing, the energy density of the flow batteries would be 5 times that of Tesla's batteries with technology where the energy density is typically far lower.[26]

• Ionic liquid