Better batteries can make better hybrid cars, better all electric cars, and be used in a variety of space applications like powering a magbeam.
From the Energy blog, high energy density (700 Wh/liter) batteries from Electrovaya Inc. (OTC: EFLV.PK) a company in Canada The MN-Series, which is a Lithiated Manganese Oxide based system, differentiates itself from Electrovaya’s Phosphate-Series solution with up to 50% higher energy density while retaining its safety characteristics. Electrovaya’s proprietary Lithium Ion SuperPolymer® technology is independent of the composition of the positive electrode active material. As such, advances in positive electrode chemistry, such as the MN-Series, are expected to enable better technical performance and safety characteristics at more economical price-points. Their previous batteries were claimed to be cost competitive with other manufacturers of lithium ion or lithium ion polymer batteries, so we should expect some reduction in price.
Electrovaya’s zero emission vehicle, previous post, the MAYA-100 is powered by energy-dense, lithium-ion SuperPolymer® technology. Equipped with a 35 to 50 kWh battery pack, this long-range ZEV can travel over 200 miles between charging, at speeds up to 80 mph. In addition to the unsurpassed range, the MAYA-100 has excellent acceleration, performance and handling. Electrovaya has a major contract with NASA to power their Astronauts while on their critical space walk missions.
Electrovaya’s Li-ion superpolymer batteries presently offer an energy density of approximately 225 Wh/kg and 475 Wh/liter. The company has a research program underway to increase the cell energy density to beyond 330 Wh/kg and 650Wh/liter.
The Li-ion superpolymer batteries use a phosphate-based compound for the cathode, and a graphite/polymer anode. (Electrovaya uses a cobalt-based cathode for its mobile computing applications.) The company is targeting a cost of $270-300/kWh for the battery at moderate levels of production.
The current early adopter price (2005) in North America is US$70,000 for the entire vehicle, batteries and onboard charger.
Brian Wang is a Futurist Thought Leader and a popular Science blogger with 1 million readers per month. His blog Nextbigfuture.com is ranked #1 Science News Blog. It covers many disruptive technology and trends including Space, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Medicine, Anti-aging Biotechnology, and Nanotechnology.
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