Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

1,000-mile EV battery to debut within two years
EV Fleet World ^ | 11 Jun 2014 | Alex Grant

Posted on 06/12/2014 11:16:36 AM PDT by thackney

Two companies have developed a new type of electric vehicle battery said to offer a 1,000 mile range, with prices and whole-life costs comparable to a conventional petrol or diesel engine. The joint project between metals specialist Alcoa and green technology company Phinergy has produced a demonstrator featuring an aluminium-air battery, designed as a range extender for the lithium-ion units used in most electric vehicles.

Already used in military applications, the battery uses a reaction with air and water over 50 aluminium plates, each of which can drive a car for up to 20 miles. The unit is designed so that drivers can exhaust the lithium-ion battery and continue using the energy in these cartridges but, as aluminium-air batteries are not rechargeable, the cartridges would have to be replaced afterwards.

Once depleted, the aluminium cartridges can be recycled to produce new ones. Alcoa and Phinergy hope to have the technology commercialised within the next year or two, boosting the range of electric vehicles by up to 1,000 miles without the weight or cost disadvantage of a larger lithium-ion unit.

Martin Briere, President of Alcoa Canada, said: ‘Automakers want technologies that enable zero-emission electric cars to travel distances that compete with gasoline-powered cars. The aluminum-air battery has the potential to meet that challenge using fully recyclable material with no CO2 emissions.’

Aviv Tzidon, CEO of Phinergy, added: ‘Electric vehicle adoption has been slowed by the limited range of regular batteries, causing what is commonly known as range anxiety. With Phinergy’s technology, and Alcoa’s industrial leadership across both the aluminum value chain and the automotive market, we see an exciting opportunity to help move electric vehicles into the mainstream.’


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: battery; efv; energy
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-67 next last
To: thackney
Cost is the issue.

Nothing a good dose of crony capitalism can't handle....

21 posted on 06/12/2014 11:54:02 AM PDT by nascarnation (Toxic Baraq Syndrome: hopefully infecting a Dem candidate near you)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: thackney

So, this means you will have to replace the 1000 mile battery once a month (at least).

Most people drive more than a thousand miles a month. What is the price of this non-rechargeable battery?


22 posted on 06/12/2014 11:54:16 AM PDT by rusty schucklefurd
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: from occupied ga

That would depend if you paid for a Tesla or a Leaf...


23 posted on 06/12/2014 11:54:49 AM PDT by thackney (life is fragile, handle with prayer)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: from occupied ga

I AM right.

Phinergy-Alcoa’s plan is for automakers to use tiny lithium ion packs so they use more aluminum air packs.

That is not the plan of the automakers.

Tesla also has a similar patent.

There will be at least three competing firms making these. So Alcoa-Phinergy will not be able to dictate to automakers how they configure the lithium ion packs.


24 posted on 06/12/2014 11:54:54 AM PDT by Reaganez
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]

To: rusty schucklefurd

They describe it used as a range extender beyond the lithium rechargable battery.

Drive 20 miles to work and back, no use.

Drive out of town for a road trip, then you use it.


25 posted on 06/12/2014 11:56:51 AM PDT by thackney (life is fragile, handle with prayer)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: from occupied ga

I currently drive an FR-S. I live in a motorcyclist’s paradise and this car takes full advantage of the twisties, every single day on my commute. It’s only got 200 hp, but it’s pretty light and the slippery tires not only allow me to drift every day, but get third gear chirping if I really, REALLY want to annoy someone...

But I’d give it up for this car which I suspect would handle pretty well too, of only because it is so small, but has a fairly long wheelbase.


26 posted on 06/12/2014 11:58:22 AM PDT by cuban leaf
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 20 | View Replies]

To: dangerdoc
Non rechargeable so basically you give up the benefits of a rechargeable battery

The only benefits to rechargables is recharging in a parking lot from large solar arrays nearby or charging with nuclear overnight. What will happen with rechargables on the highway is removing the old battery and inserting a new one. That's the only those will work on the fly and this would be no different.

That said, it's totally uneconomical just like current EVs.

27 posted on 06/12/2014 11:58:46 AM PDT by palmer (There's someone in my lead but it's not me)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: thackney

So what is the total cost, including subsidies and tax breaks? What is the total amount of pollution, considering all phases of production, and ultimate disposal of the units?


28 posted on 06/12/2014 11:59:37 AM PDT by I want the USA back (Media: completely irresponsible. Complicit in the destruction of this country.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Reaganez

Going by history as to how electric vehicles actually perform in real world conditions - night (lights) winter (heater) summer (air-conditioning) wretched traffic (stuck runing heat or air and not going anywhere) I had friends at Ga Power who used to use company electric cars. I remember one guy went from downtown to the perimeter (about 18 miles) and ran out of juice to get back. Fortunately there was a costco with an electric charging station nearby, so after an hour or two he was able to return.


29 posted on 06/12/2014 12:02:54 PM PDT by from occupied ga (Your government is your most dangerous enemy)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: UNGN

“This battery would have to be recycled for less than $115 in order to be cheaper than $4.00/gallon gasoline, as brand new, 2014 model, 35 mpg crapboxes can be purchased all day for $15K at EVERY car dealership.

Even my 420 HP mustang daily driver gets 23mpg, so my fuel cost for 1000 miles with $4 gallon gas is less than $175.

This EV would not need your $8000 gas engine. Factor that into the cost. (Actually, their targeted market would be hybrids)


30 posted on 06/12/2014 12:04:00 PM PDT by TexasGator
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 13 | View Replies]

To: cuban leaf
Lotus? maybe even cheaper


31 posted on 06/12/2014 12:08:11 PM PDT by from occupied ga (Your government is your most dangerous enemy)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: thackney
Toyota is going to drop all electric vehicles and focus on on Hybrid and Hydrogen. Click Here for Story
32 posted on 06/12/2014 12:08:15 PM PDT by HOYA97 (twitter @hoya97)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: thackney

Fancy batteries run at an optimal temp, vary that either way and everything skews downward.

Zero-emissions is a fantasy, maybe at the operating end of the first drive, but not in production, maintenance or repair/replacement. Just like everything else....

There is no free ride, (or free lunches).


33 posted on 06/12/2014 12:09:12 PM PDT by Manly Warrior (US ARMY (Ret), "No Free Lunches for the Dogs of War")
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: HOYA97

The Hybrids I understand, the Hydrogen not at all.


34 posted on 06/12/2014 12:09:35 PM PDT by thackney (life is fragile, handle with prayer)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

BFL


35 posted on 06/12/2014 12:10:10 PM PDT by Lurkina.n.Learnin
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: from occupied ga

LOTUS: Lots Of Trouble, Usually Serious.


36 posted on 06/12/2014 12:10:48 PM PDT by nascarnation (Toxic Baraq Syndrome: hopefully infecting a Dem candidate near you)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: cuban leaf
I'm on the wait list for the Elio.

37 posted on 06/12/2014 12:11:17 PM PDT by outofsalt
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: nascarnation
LOTUS: Lots Of Trouble, Usually Serious.

LOL

38 posted on 06/12/2014 12:12:55 PM PDT by from occupied ga (Your government is your most dangerous enemy)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

To: thackney

Think of a diesel-electric locomotive: it burns diesel fuel to generate electricity (ac converted to dc) which drives the engine.

In the system described in the article, aluminum is oxidized by air (in effect “burned”) to generate energy electrochemically, which drives the engine.

One critical difference: one can obtain diesel by refining petroleum you find in holes in the ground (essentially), but you’re not going to find any naturally-occurring aluminum metal.

The “fuel” for the electrochemical system has to be refined using, yes, electricity - and due to losses associated with the laws of thermodynamics, you have to put more electricity into the system than that which you ultimately get out.

So essentially this system allows available primary forms of energy (coal, nukes, etc) to be used in a transportation system. Whether it’s economically viable is another question.


39 posted on 06/12/2014 12:14:19 PM PDT by Stosh
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: from occupied ga

TSLA’s Lithium Ion 60kw battery has a 230 mile range and the 80kw battery has a 300 mile range.


40 posted on 06/12/2014 12:14:37 PM PDT by Wyatt's Torch
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 18 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-67 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson