New 10X battery technology!

[zack]

BBC News - Scientists boost battery strength with small holes

Batteries for phones and laptops could soon recharge ten times faster and hold a charge ten times larger than current technology allows.

Scientists at Northwestern University in the US have changed the materials in lithium-ion batteries to boost their abilities.

One change involves poking millions of minuscule holes in the battery.

Batteries built using the novel technique could be in the shops within five years, estimate the scientists.

[TEG]

There have been so many announcements of breakthroughs but getting from lab success to manufacturing consistency is a tall hill to climb.

Hopefully at least one of the things we have been hearing about will show up for consumers in 5 years time.

Ultracaps? Nanotube filaments? etc...

Anyone for 3000 miles on one charge?!

[Norbert]

Sounds great, maybe add it to the Battery tech sub forum (perhaps in the thread "It's the batteries, ...").

However this is a sign which usually indicates technical improvements which one doesn't hear about afterwards anymore (until perhaps in a few years):

So far, the work done by the team has concentrated on making improvements to anodes - where the current flows into the batteries when they are providing power.

The group now plans to study the cathode - where the current flows out - to make further improvements

[Mycroft]

I wonder if in 10 years the batteries in the Roadster and even the Model S will seem as quaint as the lead-acids of the EV1.

One can only hope.

[Norbert]

I wonder if in 10 years the batteries in the Roadster and even the Model S will seem as quaint as the lead-acids of the EV1.

One can only hope.

I'm sure they will... which is one of the reasons they made the battery pack swappable... so you can quickly replace it before it gets embarassing.

[zack]

If I think about the implications of the destructive force of 10X a modern-day lithium, it gives me pause. Driving on dynamite.

[VolkerP]

However this is a sign which usually indicates technical improvements which one doesn't hear about afterwards anymore:

The group now plans to study the cathode - where the current flows out - to make further improvements

We've made a bigger racket, now we need bigger balls...

[Doug_G]

If I think about the implications of the destructive force of 10X a modern-day lithium, it gives me pause. Driving on dynamite.

Yeah, might be almost as bad as gasoline.

[roblab]

And all they will allow is 3.3 kwh charging, probably on 110. Let's say 3 weeks to charge your car.

[Lloyd]

Yes, but if you had a 3000 mile range, that rate would be sufficient!