Breakthroughs in lithium ion battery technology give Phoenix Motorcars' new SUT a range of more than 200 km and a top speed of 152 km/h.
Credit: Phoenix Motorcars
I opened my spiral notebook, slid it over to Alan Gotcher and handed him my pen. I wanted Gotcher, the CEO and President of the nanotechnology company Altairnano, to explain to me why his company's battery was different from - and better than - other lithium batteries.
We were sitting in an Irish pub two blocks from Washington, DC's Union Station. While we sipped our Irish brews and waited for dinner to arrive, Gotcher sketched onto my notepad a pair of diagrams: one, a conventional lithium-ion battery cell and the other, an Altairnano cell. They looked nearly identical, with the exception that Gotcher had left something called the SEI (separator electrode interface) out of the Altairnano cell. But this one small change makes a world of difference.
A conventional lithium ion battery consists of the following layers: an aluminum electrode current collector, a graphite anode, the SEI layer (a layer soaked in lithium salts that acts as the electrolyte to facilitate ion exchange), the cathode and a copper cathode collector.
Gotcher explained to me that the SEI layer is used to keep the lithium from reacting with the graphite anode, but that it also adds a resistive element to the cell, reducing its efficiency. His company's unusual nano-titanite-based anode doesn't need the SEI layer because it doesn't react with the lithium. Instead, its extreme porosity allows the absorption of many more lithium ions, which dramatically improves the storage capability of the battery.
The company claims that their battery shows a cycle life in excess of 20,000 charges and discharges while still retaining 85 per cent of its capacity to store energy. If proven, this would be a revolutionary breakthrough, especially since Altairnano also claims their battery can be recharged not in hours, but in less than 10 minutes.
By way of comparison, the typical lithium battery takes from two to six hours to recharge, its power density is less than 1,000 watts per kilogram (w/kg), and it operates over a temperature range of 0°C to 40°C. In contrast, Altairnano's data show that their battery has a power density of 4,000 w/kg and the ability to safely operate from -50° C to 75° C. But just how safe is "safe"?
To answer this question, Gotcher gave me a description of the various tests to which the company subjected the battery: short circuit, forced discharge, over charge, over discharge, nail puncture, crush, over temperature, and a drop test. The battery survived all these trials without any smoke or fire.
Just as I was beginning to grasp the exciting potential of Altairnano's technology (performance and safety in a battery could be the combination of features that gives the electric car a much-needed commercial nudge) our dinners arrived. While I stabbed at a salad topped with strips of chicken breast and Gotcher dove into his fish and chips, he explained that his company is providing the batteries for Phoenix Motorcars' sport utility truck (SUT).
Equipped with a 35kWh, 386-volt battery pack, the converted, Korean-built four-door utility will have a range of 217 km, a top speed of 152 km/h and a 0-100 km/h time of under 10 seconds. Gotcher explained that it will be fully highway capable and as such qualifies as a Zero Emission, Type 3 vehicle by California EPA definition. Gotcher glanced at me to see if I understood the significance of that fact. I didn't, so he patiently elaborated.
I'm an insider. Sure I am
"Kent Beuchert is an insider for the oil / gas companies who has posted hundreds of daily postings to negate every positive article on electric car achievements."
Actually I was a senior software engineer. So now everyone can know that, in addition to other negative things, this poster is also a liar.
If this very poor researcher had read my posts he would have seen that I have supported Altair batteries for many months now as the best solution for electric cars and have also heavily criticized the Tesla for its Rube Goldberg approach that has resulted in an impractical, overpriced toy whose existence depends entirely upon the owner's close relationship with his millionaire Hollywood thespian good old buddies. I have also heavily criticized that lying film titled "Who Killed the Electric Car?" which rewrote history and falsely claimed that only GM ever built one and that the EV1 was anything other than an overpriced ($45,000) piece of crap that couldn't reach any destinations further than 40 miles away, took 8 hours to recharge, and had a $20,000 battery pack that barely lasted 5 years. The same could be said for the better, but still impractical Rav 4. So far, none of the modern electrics have shown any great advancement over the Detroit Electric, first built in 1907.
Sorry, fella, but you don't win an argument by slandering your opponent - that's a fallacy that has been known forever (the ad hominen), although obviously not by you. You have to debate the issues and present evidence.
Personally, if things stay as they are, I will be buying a Chevy Volt plug-in when it becomes available. If a fully practical battery comes along before then, and the infrastructure is present, then I'll likely buy an electric car. But I guarantee it won't be in any way similar to these losers: the Tesla, the EV1, the Honda EV, or the Toyota Rav 4.
They were modern day Edsels that fully deserved to die. They were foolishly kept on life support far to long.
When I posted my criticism of the Tesla on its own website, citing the Phoenix as a practical electric, one fan of the car counter posted, claiming the Altair batteries and Phoenix Motorcars would never go into production. Well, Phoenix Motorcars has 75 firm orders and has received production run battery packs. So, there's a lot of ignorance on the web. But I guess everyone here is well aware of that.
Mr. Beuchart
What do you think of the ZAP-X ev that will be distributed in the US in 2008? You seem to be detailed and up to date in the industry advancements and i'd be interested in your take...
Conspiracies and the like.
I don't need someone else telling me that someone is working for oil/gas companies. I will see what they have to say and determine that myself. Anyway, seeing a range of views helps get a balanced picture.
There are many reasons why we are not switching to electric yet such as the cost and range of batteries. Many companies are working on imporoving these disadvantages and the era of the electric car is approaching.
However, no matter what the car is powered by, you still get stuck in traffic and subject to dangerous drivers.
Why not build a system that powers the electric car from outside the car (a true Tesla car)? That way, the car only needs a small auxillary battery pack. While you are at it, you can also control the car to allow smoother flow of traffic.
If EEStor's gizmo works...
If EEStor's capacitor really works as advertised and there are
no outstanding killer hurdles n its way, it will instantly make
just about every battery obsolete, I suppose. It also would make the
ICE obsolete in short order. Of that, there is no doubt.
Electric Cars Safe?
Everyone wants us to switch over to electric cars.Does anyone know how many power station use coal to produce that electricity? Also has anyone seen the mess these tiny cars are in a crash situation? Might as well ride in a pop can.
Quote from
Quote from Visitor:
"Everyone wants us to switch over to electric cars.Does anyone know how many power station use coal to produce that electricity? Also has anyone seen the mess these tiny cars are in a crash situation? Might as well ride in a pop can."
Every bit of this post is false and scare mongering. There's have been numerous reports showing that charging electric vehicles at night would help the power station in levelling the load and would put no undue burden.
Cars, like the Tesla have to go through Government mandated crash tests. They're as safe as any other car, moreso most likely. Look on the Tesla site under blogs for their safety page.
Do your research
Power stations have thermal lag therefore charging evs at night when few are using the power they do during the day is only but logical.
About pop cans, An ev like the tesla has a much better crumble zone thanks in largely to the lack of a huge v8 or other lumps getting in the way.
Also about the parasite who said the movie "who killed the electric car?" is all lies is just one of the many scum in the world who like to stiffle human evolution by supporting the other fat parasites.
Photo Voltaic & Electric Car
Short drive people don't need long distance cars.
And enough Photovoltaic cells at home can reduce your home electric bill to $25 (the cost of using the electric company's lines) and with an EV, then you reduce your gas bill to zero.
Figure a way to finance & subsidize everyone's project, lower the costs, and spread the word.
Car Batteries
Good post,
I agree with the general sentiment of this article, but I want to speak a little on an alternative method that doesn't get as much attention as it should. Making cars more expendable. Our overeliance on our own personal automobiles is what allows us to be slaves to the gas prices. When gas hits $5.00 a gallon (or more), savings from a different battery will be a drop in the bucket. For those of us who live in big cities or smaller urban areas, why not try using different modes of transportation? If you live, work or shop anywhere on the busline, start using that for a change. If you are only going a short distance and the weather permits, try riding a bike or even walking. If you live in a major metropolitan area, then the subway or a light rail is also another option. I live in a big city and as long as it's not freezing or raining I usually always walk anywhere within a 10 block radius. If I need to go to the grocery store and don't want to walk that far with a handful of bags, I'll take the bus. I ride my bike sometimes as well. If I need to travel farther distances, I do drive, but only when I have to. I have plenty of friends will drive to the store when it's only 2 and a half blocks a way. They waste gas by needlessly driving everywhere (no matter how close), yet they complain the loudest about spending all their money on gas. Of course, for those that live in the suburbs or rural areas, it may be more difficult. There are other options though. Carpooling, for example, is a great solution that enough people don't make use of in my opinion. Also if you happen to live in the suburbs or the country, simply making a more efficient use of your driving time would help in terms of gas costs. Try to make all your stops in one trip, and in the shortest route, that way you minimize the time of making trips to and from your house or apartment every single time you need to go out. Plan ahead and make all your trips at once. Gas costs money. New high technology batteries cost money. Hybrid cars costs money etc. But Carpooling can typically cut costs by as much as 4/5ths. A bicycle may cost a couple of hundred dollars up front, but it doesn't run on fuel. Bus passes are usually dirt cheap. Walking is always free. Try to make use of these when you can! You'll need to talk to others in your local communities to organize a carpool or get information regarding a bus pass, and walking requires no explanation, but for those thinking of giving a bicycle a try here is a good guide that goes into detail about what to look for when picking out a bicycle. I wouldn't recommend purchashing a bicyle online -- you should probably visit your local bicycle retailer or large department store for a purchase like that. It's still a good idea to read about some of the differences between bikes and what to know about different speeds, frames, and sizes etc. Anyway, just thought I would pass that along. I enjoyed reading your post though. Very informative. Thanks for sharing and keep up the good work!
Electric Bikes
Electric push bikes are an affordable form of powered transport. I live in the suburbs about 5 miles from the nearest train station. I use my electric bike to ride to the train station to go to work. I also use it to go shopping. For city dwellers, an electric bike (or regular bike) will get you to your destination quicker than a car.