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Lithium-ion batteries (specifically LiFePO4) are currently the great hope of electric cars, laptop computers and cell phones, but they have their drawbacks. They recharge and release energy slowly, and in order to store a lot of energy, they're heavy. Researchers at MIT think they have found the underlying problem with these batteries and how to fix it - possibly bringing a lighter, faster battery in the next couple of years.
Up until now, scientists have believed that charged lithium atoms were to blame for the battery performance - they moved slowly through the battery material on their way to deliver their charge. But now, researchers say the atoms themselves aren't to blame, but rather how the ions get into the nano-scale tunnels that deliver them to their destination.
They've come up with a lithium phosphate coating that pushes the ions into the tunnels, where they then quickly make their way to the battery terminal. With this modification, a cell phone battery can charge in just 10 seconds. They imagine with this same boost, plug-in hybrids could fully charge in just five minutes.
Also, this new battery material wouldn't degrade as much through constant recharging, allowing smaller and lighter batteries to take the place of heavier ones. If this theory can be proved, the next step would be to come up with an amped up power supply that could deliver the electricity needed for the quick charging.
Two companies have already licensed the invention and because the material involved isn't new, this upgraded battery could be commercially available within two to three years.
via AFP
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written by Cain, March 12, 2009
The world should not be using Lithium for mass power storage applications. The problem is the release of lithium into the environment where it becomes a major poison.
Lithium has the potential to be a very serious environmental poison.
Lithium has the potential to be a very serious environmental poison.
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written by Anthony, March 12, 2009
Your cell phone might be able to charge fully in 10 seconds, however you'd need a AC/DC transformer the size of large book because you'd be drawing 1000W of power (3Wh in 10 seconds). Even if you drop it down to 60 seconds, you're still looking at 180W which is what a computer might draw. Ever open up a PC and look at the power supply?
Its why this isn't a practical application for cars - at least not directly. EVs and PHEVs could use faster recharge times, but that is more limited by conductor size and what types of electrical outlets you have at your house. If you use a 240V/30A wall outlet like you might have for an electric clothes dryer, you can recharge a Volt in about 75 minutes (better than the 3-5 hours they quote now from 120V/20A). To recharge a Tesla Roadster in 5 minutes would require about 700kW - the conductor would be about 12" in diameter.
Its why this isn't a practical application for cars - at least not directly. EVs and PHEVs could use faster recharge times, but that is more limited by conductor size and what types of electrical outlets you have at your house. If you use a 240V/30A wall outlet like you might have for an electric clothes dryer, you can recharge a Volt in about 75 minutes (better than the 3-5 hours they quote now from 120V/20A). To recharge a Tesla Roadster in 5 minutes would require about 700kW - the conductor would be about 12" in diameter.
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written by Mark Bartosik, March 12, 2009
For house hold devices like cell phones that would need a computer sized power supply, the simple answer is sure - have a huge power supply, but standardize it, so you don't need 5 different ones. One large quality charger might be more eco friendly than a host of smaller ones anyway, especially if it has zero phantom load.
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written by Murphy, March 12, 2009
Couldn't the quick charging be accomplished by trickle charging one of the batteries (perhaps a larger one) at a normal rate, then shunting its stored power into the other battery? Kinda like how you use water towers to increase water preasure?
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written by Bob Wallace, March 13, 2009
Slowly charge ultra capacitors from the grid and then dump the power quickly into rapid charge lithiums.
Ultra capacitors aren't the best answer for portable applications due to size issues. But that wouldn't matter for charging stations.
Ultra capacitors aren't the best answer for portable applications due to size issues. But that wouldn't matter for charging stations.
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written by macrumpton, March 13, 2009
One thing not mentioned in the article is that the same breakthrough that allows the battery to be charged so quickly also allows the battery to deliver huge amounts of power quickly without destroying it.
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written by Carl, March 13, 2009
One slight mistake above-- the slow to charge, slow to discharge (not high power) are traditional Li-Ion batteries as used in a laptop, etc. The Tesla uses these (with the highest kWh capacity) but needs lots of them to get the power (amperage) needed. The plug-ins (including Prius retrofit) use the lithium titanate or phosphate, and have relatively high current per cell so a relatively small battery will be usable. The MIT advance allows even more power and faster recharge, but the limit realistically is the amount of power required (available) for the charger.
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written by EV, March 14, 2009
Yes, you could charge the batteries with another one. However, there are still some disadvantages. Batteries heat up when rapidly discharged as there is some internal resistance and they would still wear out. However, you could use capacitors (even regular capacitors) in large banks, charge the caps and discharge them into the battery for this. That should eliminate most of the longevity issues and discharge problems.
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written by Bob Wallace, March 14, 2009
We know how to make green power. Wind is being rapidly installed and the resulting electricity is quite affordable. (A small fraction of the cost of gas to drive the same mile.)
We now seem to have light-enough, rapid charging batteries coming to market.
So the only issue (for those few times that most of us will need a rapid charge) is how to deliver a large amount of electricity to the outlet plug.
We can do that by installing large wires. So what if it takes something like a substation to rapidly charge multiple cars at once. We need only a few of these "substations" spread along our major highways to make the system functional.
Or we can accumulate power at the recharge site and hold in ready for when someone needs a fill-up. That can be done with ultra capacitors or with more of these same lithium batteries.
(So we lose a little power in the process. We're talking about "vacation" trips, not daily commuting.)
And don't forget that these new lithium batteries will work great for regenerative braking. Current lithium batteries won't accept power flow rapidly enough to work.
People have been looking at hybrid ultra capacitor/lithium battery packs to make regenerative braking functional. Now we can leave the larger, heavier ultras out of the car.
We now seem to have light-enough, rapid charging batteries coming to market.
So the only issue (for those few times that most of us will need a rapid charge) is how to deliver a large amount of electricity to the outlet plug.
We can do that by installing large wires. So what if it takes something like a substation to rapidly charge multiple cars at once. We need only a few of these "substations" spread along our major highways to make the system functional.
Or we can accumulate power at the recharge site and hold in ready for when someone needs a fill-up. That can be done with ultra capacitors or with more of these same lithium batteries.
(So we lose a little power in the process. We're talking about "vacation" trips, not daily commuting.)
And don't forget that these new lithium batteries will work great for regenerative braking. Current lithium batteries won't accept power flow rapidly enough to work.
People have been looking at hybrid ultra capacitor/lithium battery packs to make regenerative braking functional. Now we can leave the larger, heavier ultras out of the car.
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written by Jay Conner, March 19, 2009
We all live so familiarly with electricity that we tend to think of it as perfectly safe, but when you start moving ions around on this scale a refueling "spout" is sort of a lightning bolt. A Zeus Stick ? And would a battery/ion bottle simply fracture and dissipate harmlessly in a crash, or what ?
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written by Dr. Evil, March 19, 2009
With this new battery technology, we can now optimize the death ray.
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written by lightning, March 19, 2009
"If this theory can be proved, the next step would be to come up with an amped up power supply that could deliver the electricity needed for the quick charging"
are we finally going to be able to store/harness the energy in storm lightning flashes
are we finally going to be able to store/harness the energy in storm lightning flashes
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written by MAXX, March 27, 2009
HI;
Anyone have a link to the costs of replacing the Battery Packs in these vehicles, including all Makes and Models?
MAXX
Anyone have a link to the costs of replacing the Battery Packs in these vehicles, including all Makes and Models?
MAXX
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written by Pau, March 27, 2009
In accordance with other comments, it seems like it would be much more feasible for cell phone batteries and maybe laptops but not as much for cars due to power source requirements and safety issues.
The idea mentioned by one for a big but standardized power source would be great. That way it'd be unlikely you'd have to carry it with you. They could have them at hotels and offices and whatnot, eliminating the need to carry one around.
The idea mentioned by one for a big but standardized power source would be great. That way it'd be unlikely you'd have to carry it with you. They could have them at hotels and offices and whatnot, eliminating the need to carry one around.
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written by Tom, May 10, 2009
Batteries like this are what we need to reestablish the North American automotive love affair by providing an economical energy storage source. While the concerns of load swings and conductor sizing seem to be a limiting factor, the true challenge is maintaining consumer safety. The technical concerns are well within established common practices used by power utilities and large industrial customers, the true challenge is the safety protocols that are required to perform these actions on a daily basis with no catastrophic failures. The average consumer has no clue of the potential failures and needed safety procedures. The primary cost of filling up fast in the future may be tied to keeping trained personnel on hand to perform the fill up as in days of old and not the actual cost of the power delivered. A safe quick charging station of the future will more likely resemble a carwash bay than a fuel pump kiosk. All passengers would be required to exit the vehicle since a catastrophic failure of any component in the charging circuit or battery at the voltage and current levels required to perform this task would likely also destroy the vehicle faster than a person could exit it. This would be prevented by having the components inspected every time a charge is performed by a trained worker but liability would require an empty vehicle in a secured isolated bay with adequate fire protection on hand while the actual charging takes place.
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You'd still need to figure out some way of charging that wouldn't crash the power grid.