From the MIT web: "Researchers at MIT have developed a new type of lithium battery that could become a cheaper alternative to the batteries that now power hybrid electric cars. Until now, lithium batteries have not had the rapid charging capability or safety level needed for use in cars. Hybrid cars now run on nickel metal hydride batteries, which power an electric motor and can rapidly recharge while the car is decelerating or standing still. But lithium nickel manganese oxide, described in a paper to be published in Science on Feb. 17, could revolutionize the hybrid car industry -- a sector that has "enormous growth potential," says Gerbrand Ceder, MIT professor of materials science and engineering, who led the project. "The writing is on the wall. It's clearly happening," said Ceder, who said that a couple of companies are already interested in licensing the new lithium battery technology." More info at: http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2006/battery-hybrid.html Bring it on. We're ready!
checked out the paper in science... waaay over my head. however, as in most papers, they were nice enough to sum it up at the end. sounds like they need to look at more parameters before proceeding but there is promise. from the article: In conclusion, we have used ab initio computational modeling to infer that the combined use of low-valent transition-metal cations and low strain in the activated state are key strategies for increasing the rate capability of layered cathode materials, and we have successfully synthesized Li(Ni0.5Mn0.5)O2 with very little intra-layer disordering to optimize those factors. In agreement with our theoretical predictions, this material retains its capacity at high rates. Substitution of Co for Ni and Mn can also be used to reduce the Li/Ni exchange and improve rate performance (23, 24), although the use of Co increases the cost and reduces the safety of the material (25). Although Li(Ni0.5Mn0.5)O2 displays an exciting combination of high rate and high capacity, several other factors, such as thermal stability, cycle life, and the extra cost from the ion-exchange process, will need to be further investigated before its application in commercial products can be considered. If the outcome of such development studies is positive, Li(Ni0.5Mn0.5)O2 would be a potential cathode material for high rate applications.
I suppose it's too much to hope they get this together by the time the new 2009 Prius comes out? I do think that the popularity of hybrids is going to drive R&D in batteries way into high gear now. I'm looking forward to the same breakthroughs as personal computing. In the case of batteries: smaller, cheaper, lighter, faster charging, larger capacity, the whole magilla.
I think R&D has already increased drastically. Everyone seems to be researching the next better battery. Hybrids have poor batteries, just as cell phones initially had huge but weak batteries.
I'll be interested in seeing results of lifetime testing over several deep charge/discharge cycles. That always seems to be the big killer as far as *usable* Wh/kg... . _H*
charge cycles are a problem, but the study does suggest a cheaper battery. so what if the battery needs to be replaced every 3 years if its not going to cost an arm and a leg. if you could get a 60 mile plug in hybrid, what would you pay say every 3 years for battery pack replacement? $500, $1000 you would save more than that in gas. i would pay $1000. much more than that (which is probably more likely... business has the tendancy to level the playing field) would approach a break even mark with current hybrid technology EDIT... nothing to add however, just editing for the heck of it
No matter how cheap, I would be wary of a battery I had to replace every three years. Because of landfill/toxic waste problems. Our culture has become so obsessed with batteries that disposal is starting to become a problem. Batteries for toys, appliances, cameras, watches, cell phones, etc are growing at an alarming rate. Add to that disposing of car batteries for domestic cars. I didn't replace my batteries all that often. But...if you have to replace a hybrid battery pack twice as often as you do a conventional car's regular battery.....that isn't only a problem with recycling/toxic waste/landfill....that's also a PR problem. Because the hybrid nay-sayers will be able to say "SEE! Told you so! Didn't we say you had to replace them every three years?"
i think the era of cheap disposable batteries will be here for a bit longer. but large battery packs like a traction battery will not see a landfill. not sure of recycle ability of LI based battery systems, but i just dont see it happening. something that has a market value of several hundred dollars will not be thrown away that easily
It's good to be concerned. My understanding is that lithium batteries are more recyclable and less toxic. http://www.buchmann.ca/Article16-Page1.asp http://www.toxco.com/
I'm beginning to become optimistic that my next automobile might actually be all electric. I'll probably replace my 2005 Prius in 2015 when it will have 300,000 miles on it, and surely by then there will be EVs available. If there was a mainstream (i.e. Toyota, Ford, GM, Nissan, Honda, etc) EV on the market right now with a range of 100 - 120 miles, I'd trade my Prius in tomorrow morning to buy it. When I bought my '88 Camry in '88, I thought that that would be the last ICE vehicle I would ever buy. If GM's EV-1 had been sold in New York, I'd have bought one, but I believe they were only sold in California and Arizona.
"... several other factors, such as thermal stability, cycle life, and the extra cost from the ion-exchange process, will need to be further investigated ..." IMO, this portion of the conclusion alone means this won't be a hybrid solution. Oxide-based cells are the ones that explode or catch fire when pushed too hard or damaged.
Reading about battery replacement, reminds me of the GM pickup with Lead Acid batteries, which I think need replacement every 6 years. In non-GM publications, the hybrid part was cool, the replacing the battery part, wasn't. RE: Lion for the Prius, after reading the posts, I am questioning whether it is a good idea or not to substitute the Nickle Hydride with the Lion in the Prius. Comments?
One thing that worries me about Li batteries are the Li-Poly batteries used in the hobby market for RC Aircraft and Heli's are not the most stable. I wonder if they will be the same type. The ones in the hobby market shouldn't be left charging without supervision and if you crash your craft, the batteries could randomly burst into flames.
