Hybrid battery compromises charge for safety
Lithium ion batteries have been bandied about as a possible solution to the development of more efficient regular hybrids, plug-ins, or practical electric vehicles. The Tesla roadster, for example, is powered by an extremely efficient lithium ion pack. Unfortunately such batteries have a greater likelihood to catch on fire or even explode ("spontaneously combust"). As sib blog engadget reports, it's one thing for a laptop battery to blow up; cars performing such pyrotechnics would have a larger impact (and possible lawsuits).
Enter Valence Technology. The Austin-based company has modified its U-Charge Power System lithium ion batteries to lower the chances for fires. Instead of using a cobalt oxide cathode found in most such batteries, Valence's batteries use metal phosphate which doesn't have the same tendency to burn when the battery gets hot. Unfortunately, such batteries only hold 75% of a charge compared to a regular battery. Engadget rightly points out that many drivers, especially in the U.S., may not be willing to lose efficiency in the name of safety.
[Source: CNET News via Engadget]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Alex Karahalios 2:50PM (7/29/2006)
"Unfortunately, such batteries only hold 75% of a charge compared to a regular battery. "
Actually Valence U-Charge batteries have 65% MORE capacity , 79% MORE Watt hours and 666% MORE cycle life than lead acid batteries. I don't know where you got the 75% from; maybe this is in comparison to regular Li-Ion batteries.
See http://www.valence.com/ucharge.asp
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Joe 6:06PM (7/29/2006)
I know I would definitely prefer efficiency over safety, but looking at that picture forces me to reconsider. Maybe in a laptop I value efficiency over safety, but in a CAR, Safety is number one.
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lavardera 6:04PM (7/30/2006)
Am I supposed to think that a pack of lithium ion batteries are going to be more dangerous than, let's say, sitting on top of a big tank of gasoline?
At least the Li-Ions are not supposed to explode.
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Tony C 10:57PM (7/30/2006)
I get the idea that you're trying to highlight the danger of potentially explosive Li-Ion battery systems in hybrids... So why sensationalize it like a tabloid by posting a photo of a burning very non-hybrid gasoline-only powered late model Toyota Supra? Maybe because there's no photos of hybrids in flames due to exploding batteries? At least Engadget was more responsible and actually posted a photo of the company's product.
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mickster 9:14AM (7/31/2006)
Actually Lavardera, Lithium is supposed to explode. If water vapor hits it, it can combust as easily as gasoline.
It is part of the Alkali family: Alkali Metals are the elements in Group IA of the periodic table. The members of the family are lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, cesium, and francium. All six elements have the properties of metals except they are softer and less dense. They can be cut with a knife. They are the most reactive metals. They are so reactive that they are never found in nature. They are always combined with other elements. The alkali metals have only one electron in their outermost shell, so alkali metals form positive ions. (source: http://www.ruf.rice.edu/~sandyb/Lessons/chem.html)
As such, Lithium is unstable...I guess you didn't have the chemistry class demonstration where the teacher throws sodium into water...
Alex: They are comparing it to other Lithium-ion batteries.
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Drew 10:21AM (7/31/2006)
Poor Supra :(
FIND A DIFFRENT PIC!!!
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James Fraser 12:01PM (7/31/2006)
Valance isn't the only one making safe Li-ion batteries. Altair Nanotechnology's battery has been tested as being safe and are to be used in the electric Phoenix Motorcars pickup truck with a range of 120 miles and a top speed of 85 mph. See this post
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