Scientists with the Department of Energy have designed a new type of battery that they say outpaces the ubiquitous lithium-ion batteries in flammability, cost, and ability to hold a charge. Sulfur-based tech the answer to burnable lithium-ion batteries? | Cutting Edge - CNET News
If they can bring it to market soon, these 2 aspects certainly make it seem like a game changer: "Lithium-sulfur batteries have four times the energy density of lithium-ion batteries, according to ORNL, which means they should be able to hold a charge for much longer." "Sulfur is an abundant and cheap material".
What about specific power? I mean great news that they can hold many times energy per volume or weight, but what about high power, can they deliver 1C, 2C? There was similar news with Zinc-Air batteries, but a 100 kWh battery can only deliver 17 kW, and you can charge that battery only with 17 kW, that is only 0.17 C. Today we have 120 kW Tesla superchargers, tomorrow we need batteries that can be charged at least at 2C.
That's what we want, but if you have can have a cheap metal-air battery paired with a smaller high-power lithium ion battery I think the vast majority of people would be happy to compromise. Although your max charging mph would be lower, trips beyond range would be few and the lithium ion would be the more active battery. A .17C battery can be fully charged overnight, during a workday or a day of activity, more than half charged during a (US) football or (base)ball game and a lithium-ion battery can be fully charged in the time it takes to have a meal (during which time the .17C battery can also add charge). Combine all of those charging opportunities and the only scenario it couldn't handle well would be the rare grueling day of near non-stop driving, and even then the overall charging time/mile would be relatively low.
For enthusiasts like us it's sufficient, taking advantage of every charging opportunity, but if EV want's a bigger market share it will have to have a fast charge option, this may be 120 kW DC charger, or this may be electrolyte change on gas station, or some 10 kg range Al extender, or fuel cell range extender ... But for now we are seeing only superchargers (20 min stop for 2-3 hour drive), but we will see what future brings.
Actually, today Elon Musk it's extending the quantity of Ultra Fast Chargers in Ca and some adjacent States. With this visionary provision, in this case the Tesla vehicles, will be able to drive long distances much beyond their based range. Hey, it's a beginning with a simple solution. And probably he will build a shopping mall around the Charging stations too.....with a ticket counter for aerospace flight travel.
I don't see why batteries can't be designed like computer memory. A small/fast cache and a larger/slower main memory. This would allow fewer and more controlled cycles on the more infreqently used larger, lighter battery. And a smaller battery for "everday" use. It also means you could more easily replaced the "cache" battery in later years, but keep the bigger, longer use battery. Mike
Wan't there also some sulphur in leadacid batteries Some strange full circle? The wife should get an EV... The company she just started working at has two charging stations and the owners are supposedly taking delivery of their Model S's shortly. She'll get the plug-in Prius that I'll get as a loancar tomorrow, as EV's get to park right next to te entrance (where the charging-poles are).
