tonybelding

Good summary of where battery technology now stands. . .

http://www.edn.com/article/CA6501082.html

The comment at the end about silver-zinc cells was interesting. A quick back-of-the-envelope calculation suggests that a Tesla Roadster designed to use them could be a 350-mile car.

Still. . . Silver! I mean, if the cars are expensive now, just imagine putting in a few hundred pounds of silver.

vfx

Silver content would probably bring more unwanted notice.

From: http://www.commuter-register.org/airbags.htm

Stolen airbags are also becoming a problem. They are fast becoming the top item stolen from vehicles. Why? Thieves can steal an airbag in less than three minutes and sell it for a quick profit. How many airbags are stolen? Estimates vary but recently a major national airbag theft ring based in Detroit, Michigan, was allegedly responsible for moving 25,000 airbags in a year, according to authorities.

Also the platinum in your catalytic converter get you visited:
http://www.citynews.ca/news/news_8913.aspx

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The world loves to be deceived.

TEG

Yup, one of my work-mates had his cut right off his car from our parking lot one day a few months ago. Amazingly brash.

malcolm

Old article from 2006 on thermal design in battery packs

http://powerelectronics.com/mag/607PET23a.pdf