The development responsible for the improved efficiency lies in a new cathode material which will be used in lithium-ion polymer batteries in automotive applications. The cathode material is in the form of a superlattice (pictured above), with alternating strands of material to give the battery wider voltage range, as well as make it non-toxic and disposable, unlike current batteries.
Critics wary of jumping on the superlattice bandwagon too early say the real breakthrough will come if Superlattice Power can manufacture the material in commercial quantities for relatively cheap prices compared to current technology.
While the technology is still in testing, preliminary results look promising and could mean a bevy of auto manufacturers will be buying the rights to use it. A range of 200 miles will allow for much longer commutes than GM's Volt, which has a 40mile range, but we'll need to wait to see when superlattices come to market.
Reader Comments
Tue Jun 3 2008 9:58 AM
Gus says
I'm just waiting for that big breakthrough, the day that someone invents something that totally blows the whole energy system of this planet out of the water, and changes everything. The discovery of nuclear power was one such event back in the WW2 days. We need some huge, mind blowing invention like that someday soon.
Just imagine:
"Scientists have discovered a dilithium crystal creation process that can power an electric motor for 20 years before needing replaced."
What would something like that do for the world?
Tue Jun 3 2008 10:00 AM
chris says
and this is why electric cars will be so good. you'll be able to develop new battery technologies without having to change the car itself. you could opt for a better battery at the time of purchase for a higher range. you could drop a new battery pack into an older car to give it more range than it ever had.
and because it's all just a matter of chemistry, it isn't like trying to switch from gasoline to diesel to E85 to CNG to hydrogen to plutonium. it's a battery. you plug it in.
Tue Jun 3 2008 10:14 AM
DadzBoyz says
What about upgrades.... I'm not sure how these cars are being engineered, but will electric car owners be able to purchase replacement batteries with higher capacities to upgrade their Volt/Prius/whatever to the newer and longer lasting technology, or will they be stuck with whatever was originally put in the vehicle?
Tue Jun 3 2008 11:09 AM
Gus says
My guess is upgraded batteries will be a big market. All they need to do is be the same shape and wieght, and have the same power output and the car won't know the difference.
The only thing the car will get wrong is the intial range reading, since it is assuming the battery won't last as long as it does.
Cool.
Tue Jun 3 2008 11:42 AM
NCyder says
@chris
"and because it’s all just a matter of chemistry, ... it’s a battery. you plug it in."
No, you don't just plug it in. Different chemistry needs different charge and discharge rates to meet design targets.
Best case is that it is just a "plug it in" and maybe a battery management computer software update.
Tue Jun 3 2008 12:32 PM
Jake says
@NCyder
Not really. If you standardise the voltage inputs/output levels and currents, the battery management and charge circuitry would likely be inbuilt and take care of the rest, both as an input and output. Consumer lithium batteries already have a charge monitoring circuit inbuilt, reporting a % capacity to the system. Just adds a little extra complexity to the system, but cost increase will be marginal compared to the overall price of the battery pack, dominated by the lithium cells themselves.
Tue Jun 3 2008 1:25 PM
Roy says
Gus, I wouldn't hold your breath for those dilithium crystals. Although Lithium is in the same column of the Periodic Table as Hydrogen (which roams around as dihydrogen gas, and even more famously as dihydrogen oxide - water), lithium prefers to form solids with negatively charged ions, hence lithium ion batteries.
Tue Jun 3 2008 6:27 PM
Gus says
Oh Roy, I was talking Star Trek, dude!
Maybe I'm just old...
Tue Jun 3 2008 6:30 PM
Paulbe says
Suddenly, when there's a financial imperative, a technology that has gone nowhere much since the early 1900s can have a breakthrough like this? I suspect they know even more about global oil supply than we suspect.
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