Hybrid Technologies readies new li-ion batteries with "superlattice structures"
Hybrid Technologies, the company that will bring some of its newly re-named LiV line of electric vehicles to the New York Auto Show next month, has announced that its new type of lithium ion polymer battery has passed tests and should allow electric cars to go 200 miles per charge once they're mass produced. The improvement in the li-ion batteries is a new cathode material with what Hybrid Technologies calls a "superlattice structure" where some of the transition metal is replaced by lithium. This new material allows batteries to operate anywhere between 4.3V to 2V. Successful industrial-scale synthesis means that Hybrid Technologies expects these batteries to be used not only in EVs but also UPS power back-up systems. There's lots more at the Hybrid Technologies website. Thanks to Scott S. for the tip!
[Source: Hybrid Technologies]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Tim 11:26AM (2/26/2008)
YACK YACK YACK!
How much? How soon? PROVE IT!
Making promises you can't keep STEALS dreams the same way as writing checks you can’t cash steals labor only worse!
Thieves should be skinned alive, rolled in rock salt and left in the sun to dry.
Hear THAT battery makers and politicians?
GOOD!
(ok, so I'm a little pissed off about empty promises)
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Dave 1:11PM (2/26/2008)
I agree with the premise Tim, disagree with the delivery.
HT: PROVE IT!
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KarenRei 1:18PM (2/26/2008)
What on earth, Tim...?
This is excellent news. Most of the recent revolutionary advances have been in anodes (lithium vanadium oxide, silicon nanowires, etc). That's good; traditional graphite anodes are bulky. However, with how much they've increased the anode density, you leave the cathode as the constraint. This advance is doubling the energy density of the cathode. Combined with the recent anode advances, you're looking at something like a 3-5x increase in total energy density. Sign me up!
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KarenRei 1:18PM (2/26/2008)
Dave: Are you trying to say that you don't think Hybrid Technologies is a legit company? What about, say, this:
http://www.popularmechanics.com/blogs/automotive_news/4215249.html
I don't understand what's so hard about this to believe. I see no violations of the laws of physics here, no implausible claims. For the cathode, you need a material that is stable with or without lithium in its bonding structure. The more lithium you can fit in and take out safely, the higher your energy density. There's absolutely no reason why LiCoO2 should be seen as anywhere close to a fundamental limit on this front. There's a lot of research going on with this front.
Or are you having trouble believing that batteries, as a whole, are advancing? Let me hook you up with a cell phone from the early 90s; that may change your mind ;)
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Dave 1:36PM (2/26/2008)
Karen,
The article doesn't tell me much about HT. In my never ending quest for an EV that is affordable ($30-35K) and can go highway speeds and is a 4-door, I'd like HT to show to us that their cars do what they say.
Remember their little experiment with PT Cruiser taxis (I think it was in New York City) that didn't go any where near their claimed range and the experiment was nearly a total failure? It doesn't make me over-confident in their ability to perform as promised. I don't have the link but I know ABG covered it.
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Sebastian 2:54PM (2/26/2008)
here's a link to the story Dave mentioned:
http://www.autobloggreen.com/2007/07/16/electric-pt-cruiser-couldnt-cut-it-as-ny-taxi/
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AES 2:53PM (2/26/2008)
Sebastian-
HT made a major goof with one of their tables, specifically the one that lists Wh/kg energy densities of various li-ion batteries ranging from 480-936 Wh/kg(!). Those values are obviously bogus. I think they simply flipped the Ah/kg and Wh/kg columns, which would put their technology's capacity at a much more believable (though still impressive) 240 Wh/kg.
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KarenRei 4:36PM (2/26/2008)
Dave: "In my never ending quest for an EV that is affordable ($30-35K) and can go highway speeds and is a 4-door" -- sounds like you want a MiEV. :)
AES: Look right to me for energy densities for the cathode alone. Which is all they're talking about, after all. But I suppose your interpretation could be correct as well.
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