Science
Related: About this forumBatteries not included
Necessity is the mother of invention, and it seems the focus of invention has been on cell phone technology of late. I guess that's where the money is.
Graphene is a one atom thick sheet of carbon that's very light and strong, but actually quite flimsy and unworkable. In 2010 the Nobel prize went to these men who discovered a new way to form it. Graphene structure can best be described as an atomic scale carbon chicken wire. A one meter sheet of graphene weighs a mere .77 milligrams.
What the people in this video did was find a way to use Graphene to make super supercapacitors that will hold an electrical charge. The graphene capacitor will charge extremely fast and hold that charge for a extended time. In practical terms, it's an almost infinitely rechargeable storage device that charges in mere seconds and supplies power all day. Larger supercapacitors may be able to run an electric car all day on a few minute charge.
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Do you remember when cell phones were the size of a brick? That all changed with the invention of new battery technology (liHop) that allowed for today's iPhone. This innovation is at least that important, and could be the breakthrough that finally makes the electric car a common reality in the very near future. I wouldn't buy that new Tesla just yet until we see how this works out or you could be seen as driving a brick in a couple years.
longship
(40,416 posts)If they can build them easily and with high enough capacity, this could be a real breakthrough.
R&K
progressoid
(49,999 posts)formercia
(18,479 posts)I'm sure the final version will have safety mechanisms to prevent it.