EV batteries are getting a caffeine boost: Japanese researchers are enhancing EV battery capabilities by adding a small amount of caffeine to battery electrodes to help boost efficiency and produce cheaper and more effective batteries, according to a new study by researchers from Japan’s Chiba University.

How it works: Lithium-ion batteries traditionally become less efficient over time as platinum hydroxide builds up on the cathode, but caffeine can curb the formation of platinum hydroxide and boost fuel-cell reaction 11x, Bloomberg explains.

AI can help find other solutions: Researchers are leveraging AI to rapidly identify potential materials, and one candidate has been found that can reduce lithium usage in batteries by 70%, potentially slashing costs and addressing supply constraints, Bloomberg writes.

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