Info on batteries for Electric Vehicles

[kristopher]

This is from the website of "Lightning Car Company" a start-up manufacturer of EVs in England. Their battery technology looks extremely promising in that it addresses several of the limits facing current generation lithium batteries:


Until now, battery technology has hindered electric vehicle innovation. In 2000, US company Altairnano Inc. established a research programme to create an ultra safe, high power battery using cutting-edge Nanotechnology. The result of their hard work is the NanoSafe™ battery.

SAFER - NanoSafe™ batteries use nano titanate materials instead of graphite which makes them far more thermally stable - there are no toxics or heavy metals used in NanoSafe™ batteries.

LONGER-LASTING - NanoSafe™ batteries have a life expectancy of 12+ years, versus the 3-5 year usable life of other batteries. NanoSafe™ can retain up to 85% charge capacity after 15,000 charges.

FASTER CHARGE - NanoSafe™ batteries can be recharged in approximately 10 minutes, rather than the hours required by many other rechargeable batteries.

MORE POWERFUL - With instantaneous power even at extreme temperatures, NanoSafe™ batteries deliver power per unit weight and unit volume several times that of conventional Lithium-Ion batteries.

NanoSafe™ is the power supply choice of Phoenix Motorcars for their Sport Utility Truck. www.phoenixmotorcars.com

NanoSafe™ has also powered the world record beating EV dragster driven by Dennis Berube in Tucson Arizona on December 30th 2007, during which he achieved a top speed of over 160mph in under 8 seconds.

http://www.lightningcarcompany.co.uk/nanosafe.php

[poverlay]

1. That's a dream come true. I hope to see them everywhere... Soon.. n/t

[rurallib]

2. Been following the nano battery for a couple years now

thanks to DU. I have always been amazed that in any discussion I see or hear on electric batteries these guys are never mentioned. Yet they appear to have a very viable technology. I cannot figure out why. Even the vaunted PBS in a recent show stated "battery technology is not there yet. Can't go far enough. Recharge takes too long."
I really wonder why I never hear these guys mentioned? Is it that all the media is kowtowing to oil fearing that a truly viable electric vehicle would be a knife in Big Oil's back?

[kristopher]

3. Many people don't appreciate the significance of energy storage

Another part of lack of coverage is that there are two distinct parts of new technology development: inventing and manufacturing. Many great inventions simply can't be manufactured easily enough to make a meaningful difference. This looks to be one advance that has crossed both hurdles.

[Saturday]

4. Thanks, very interesting. nt

[monomach]

5. They're selling their car for a quarter of a million, so...

...don't get too excited just yet.

We do not yet know whether a mass-produced version can be doable at a price in which most people can switch to an EV.