“Nanoscoops” Could Spark New Generation of Electric Automobile Batteries

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute ^ | January 4, 2011 | Unknown

[decimon]

New Nanoengineered Batteries Developed at Rensselaer Exhibit Remarkable Power Density, Charging More Than 40 Times Faster Than Today’s Lithium-ion Batteries

An entirely new type of nanomaterial developed at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute could enable the next generation of high-power rechargeable lithium (Li)-ion batteries for electric automobiles, as well as batteries for laptop computers, mobile phones, and other portable devices.

The new material, dubbed a “nanoscoop” because its shape resembles a cone with a scoop of ice cream on top, can withstand extremely high rates of charge and discharge that would cause conventional electrodes used in today’s Li-ion batteries to rapidly deteriorate and fail. The nanoscoop’s success lies in its unique material composition, structure, and size.

The Rensselaer research team, led by Professor Nikhil Koratkar, demonstrated how a nanoscoop electrode could be charged and discharged at a rate 40 to 60 times faster than conventional battery anodes, while maintaining a comparable energy density. This stellar performance, which was achieved over 100 continuous charge/discharge cycles, has the team confident that their new technology holds significant potential for the design and realization of high-power, high-capacity Li-ion rechargeable batteries.

“Charging my laptop or cell phone in a few minutes, rather than an hour, sounds pretty good to me,” said Koratkar, a professor in the Department of Mechanical, Aerospace, and Nuclear Engineering at Rensselaer. “By using our nanoscoops as the anode architecture for Li-ion rechargeable batteries, this is a very real prospect. Moreover, this technology could potentially be ramped up to suit the demanding needs of batteries for electric automobiles.”

[decimon]

elecric cars are DOA until they 1. can go 400 miles at 80 mph in NORMAL use

You've described a lesser use. The greatest use is in urban areas, at low speeds, for short distances.

AND 2. not kill anyone when crashed or towed.

The high current circuits could be tied in with the air bags to open when the air bags deploy.

[pappyone]

You got me laughing at work.

[ClearCase_guy]

The greatest use is in urban areas, at low speeds, for short distances.

When I lived in the city, I used my car for very short trips and very low speeds. About 90% of my car time was spent performing tasks that an electric car could do well.

But about 10% of the time, I wanted to leave the city and travel a significant distance at a significant speed. I would absolutely need a car that could perform both roles.

I can electric taxis. I do not see electric family cars.

[brityank]

Highway taxation is what will stop the country.

Well, the EPA has already shut down most technology projects on the basis of GreeNazi lies, and as this clip from your Wiki link above shows, they may have to permit it, but they'll make it painful"

Congress has encouraged conversion of cars to CNG with a tax credits of up to 50% of the auto conversion cost and the CNG home filling station cost. However, while CNG is much cleaner fuel, the conversion requires a type certificate from the EPA. Meeting the requirements of a type certificate can cost up to $50,000.

It also noticed the cost relative to gasoline was less than half - $1.50gge. (gasoline gallon equivalent)

[decimon]

But about 10% of the time, I wanted to leave the city and travel a significant distance at a significant speed.

I think the one-vehicle household might now be the minority. The most used household vehicle is likely the go-getter with another vehicle for other purposes.

I can electric taxis. I do not see electric family cars.

Maybe USPS/UPS/FEDEX and the like. There are an amazing number of such vehicles in NYC and probably most urban areas.

[thackney]

Numbers are all over the place on this. I don’t know which to believe.

- - - - - -

Why don’t we use the numbers in the Operators Manual?
http://www.chevrolet.com/assets/pdf/owners/manuals/2011/2011_chevrolet_volt_owners.pdf

9-56 Driving and Operating

Electrical Requirements for Battery Charging

The AC outlet must have a grounded, dedicated, 15 amp or greater, three-prong wall plug. That means there should be no other major appliances connected to the same circuit. If it is not a dedicated circuit, the current rating of the outlet circuit breaker could be exceeded and cause it to trip or open. The vehicle can be charged in the reduced level mode.

See “Charge Level Button” in this section. Reduced level mode allows a non-dedicated circuit to be used but increases the charging time.

This vehicle is capable of being charged with a variety of standard vehicle charging equipment.

The following are the minimum requirements for circuits used to charge this vehicle:
. 120V/15Amp
. 240V/20Amp

Charging equipment with a rating of at least 240V/20Amp will provide the fastest charging time to recharge the high voltage battery. 240V/40Amp circuits provide flexibility for future vehicle charging needs. Contact your dealer for more information.

Do not use non-grounded electrical plug adapters.

- - - - - -

In section: 5-34 Instruments and Controls It goes through the ability to program the charging time. The system has the ability to take a slower charge or delay the charge based upon utility rates and time of day metering.

10 hours on a 120 volt, 15 Amp source; or and 4 hours on a 240 volt, 20 Amp source appear to be the fastest available. Looks like they hope to offer and upgrade that might complete in 2 hours at some time in the future.

[thackney]

I believe there are charging stations that are or could be so capable.

I could provide a charging system that could deliver that much energy that quickly. I do not know of any vehicle sized battery system that would not explode or otherwise fail if such a powerful charge was shoved into it.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks decimon.

[nascarnation]

using the fueleconomy.gov calculator

the nat gas Honda has an annual fuel cost of $1034 (15000 miles)

the regular Honda is $1589

the nat gas Honda is about $7000 MORE than the conventional, and you get a $4000 fed tax credit.

some states have additional tax credits and allow use in HOV lanes, neither applies to me

so basically the economics don’t work very well currently, the one plus would be availability of fuel if we ever get into the petroleum shortage / rationing game again

[CutePuppy]

This may be somewhat similar to Rensselaer Li-ion+nano technology:

From 10 technologies to watch in 2011 - EET, by Nicolas Mokhoff, 2010 December 15

.....

Energy storage media sought

Many exotic technologies loom as long-term prospects for efficient energy storage, but to date none poses a commercially feasible alternative to lithium-ion batteries, and recent refinements to lithium-ion technology will keep it in the lead for the short haul.

A123 Systems, a developer and manufacturer of advanced Li-ion batteries based on nanoscale materials that were conceived at MIT, was recently selected to develop battery packs for a 2012-model-year electric passenger car from Shanghai Automotive Industry Corp., the largest automaker in China. A123 has also signed a deal to sell 44 megawatts' worth of its batteries to AES Energy Storage, in a step toward putting solar and wind farms on the grid.

While lithium-ion today is the poster child for energy storage, the technology has inherent limits in energy density and readily available raw materials. Those restrictions, in turn, could limit the production of electric vehicles if a commercially feasible alternative to lithium-ion batteries is not found soon. ..... < snip >

Despite apparent progress on increasing density with nano-materials, article sounds quite gloomy.

Of course, the biggest obstacle for any significant size of consumer electric auto market to develop would be the electric energy generation, and the undue emphasis of governments on inefficient and expensive "green" wind and solar technologies (instead of accelerating deployment of nuclear reactors) just is not going to get it done.

Development of inexpensive portable / removable batteries would take care of the [high-speed] charging problem, if the batteries could be quickly replaced or "rented" in any "charging" station or auto store or department store... but that seems to be a fantasy for now.

[Eepsy]

Because when the electric companies asked Tesla how they’d be able to charge people for using the towers, he couldn’t think of a way....