pluginaustin

Laptop Batteries to the Rescue?

Besides the excitement over the Plug-in Hybrid, the all-electric car world is undergoing a major change as computer batteries using lithium ion begin to be employed in lieu of car battery technology using sealed lead acid batteries.

These lithium ion batteries have the potential to completely change the standard beliefs commonly held of all-electric vehicles. Instead of ranges in the 40 to 60 mile range with standard batteries, 200 mile ranges are predicted with lithium ion. Where the standard lead acid battery can be charged perhaps 400 to 600 hundred times, giving it a 2 or 3 year life, the lithium ion battery can be charged up to 2000 times, giving it a 7 to 10 year life.

And perhaps most importantly, energy density in the lithium ion battery is four times greater than in the standard lead acid battery. Therefore, a lithium ion all-electric car can store its electric gasoline in an area just slightly larger than the area dedicated to the gasoline tank in the standard gasoline vehicle. This means that an all-electric car with a driving range of 200 miles will look and weigh in at an equal or less weight to the gasoline car.

A local manufacturer of electric cars is currently taking a standard American car and converting it to a lithium ion electric car. Because all of the batteries are located in the area where the gas tank was located and in the front former engine compartment area, there are no batteries in the trunk or passenger areas. Thus, such a lithium ion all-electric car is able to pass standard safety requirements that other electric vehicles fail.

These high energy density batteries will make other kinds of other electric transportation devices more usable and acceptable. Powerful electric motorcycles, small Vesta-like electric scooters, Lee Iacocca electric bikes, and innovative products like the Segway will be more appealing to the public with the lithium ion battery. (the Segway employs Lithium ion now)

These same characteristics will make the plug-in hybrid conversion of a standard Toyota platform hybrid car even more likely and a possible candidate for local job creation.

posted by AE @ 2:46 PM