With so much vapor ware coming and going in the field of energy storage, I'm almost reluctant to post this news: A big breakthrough for electric vehicle batteries - SiliconValley.com But, the only thing I'm more of, than reluctant, is ever-hopeful. One number I was disturbed to NOT find in the article is how many charge cycles their new chemistry will allow. I wish them well!
Well, that is a step in the right direction. Now, hopefully, the pack is easy to charge, cheap to produce as they say, and safe. A poorly manufactured LIon battery have been known for... Spectacular effects. I am looking forward to it, as it could lead to possible conversion of current hybrid technologies as well.
That is one heck of an energy density. Wow. Along the same tangent Hill mentioned, I keep this list in my head to check off when reading about batteries. Any data absence is a strong reason to be skeptical of the battery as a near market alternative and not just PR to keep the investment dollars rolling: 1. Longevity 2. DoD 3. Safety 4. Energy Density 5. Shelf life 6. Max discharge
There are many possible improvements to anode/cathode in Li chemistries. The 400wh/kg will certainly be acheived. The off the shelf consumer cells in the tesla roadster are already at 125wh/kg. The questioin is whether it will be comercialized or something else will happen. New Lithium-Ion Batteries Promise Lower Cost, Higher Range EVs | Autopia | Wired.com true number of cycles doesn't get measured until SOC and BMS are in place. Bold and italics are mine.
Well, there is a likely chance since the first gen is ARPA funded, that the first generation will go towards the Military, especially given the fact that one of the posts I put up, the Government is also looking at having a hybrid based CFV/Tank, which means a High Density LIon would be perfect for combat vehicles using hybrid technology.
I am waiting to see if battery/expert/skeptic John Peterson comments on this. But even assuming it is good technology, getting to commercial production is often a major hurdle.
Yup... Even Gizmodo chimed in on it: New Electric Car Battery Could Double Capacity and Halve Cost expected 2015 for John Q Public seeing it. More likely to go to the Military for the Hybrid Combat Vehicles first, Military has the budget to get first dibs on most tech breakthroughs.
As I said in the other thread, let's hope this is legit, and not another EEStor. There's so much vaporware in this field that an announcement of this sort is less exciting than it might be.
