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.
EEStor 2007?
You mentioned that the EEStor energy storage device is expected to be unveiled in 2006; do you have a real source for that information? If the EEStor device actually works, it will have a profound effect on the car industry, and on Toronto based Zenn cars (formerly Feel Good Cars corp.) in particular.
EEStor
The EEStor energy storage device is a bank of an improved type of multilayer ceramic capacitors. For high energy density they need to be charged to 3500 volts. To make a competitive system, special charging systems must be designed and made available. A special regulator to control discharge and use of the stored energy at a much lower voltage. For details, read US Pat. 7,033,406 and the other patents referenced in that one.
Electric car hype is absurd
As both an electric car proponent (a PRACTICAL car, not a car only a treehugger could live with) as well as a stockowner of Altair, I would love to see a practical battery. Altair's battery truly is the first battery that possesses fast recharge and long lifespan capabilities that are essential if an electric car is to be a viable replacement of gasoline powered vehicles. Right now the batteries have too high an initial price to be have a large influence in the auto marketplace. They are wisely being installed in commercial fleet targetted vehicles, since the utilities and other companies that purchase them are in a position to not worry about the initial costs and will use them for the many years required to make them financially practical. The Big Three have recommended that Congress appropriate $500 million for a battery research effort to match the Japanese, who are ahead of the U.S. in battery development, contrary to the implied claims of this article. Whether a cheaper battery that can equal the Altair batteries can be developed is unknown, although many knowledgeable people in the field seem to believe one can. If not, I would recommend that batteries be financed via 15 years mortgage rather than by auto loan in order to make the high initial price of the batteries surmountable by lower income buyers. The gas savings will allow the batteries to pay for themselves.
Kent Beuchert
Tampa, FL
2007 is year of electric car
As batteries develop, companies should benefit. Motors are also developing at a rapid pace, but the key is going to be cost. Companies that can make electric vehicles at a reasonable cost will be the ultimate winners.
Kent Beuchert is a fake name used by the oil and gas lobby.
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. Please "google" his name under "news" to see the hundreds of other postings he has quickly replied to with negative incorrect information. I am writing a story to expose his true identity. Please forward any information you may have on him so we can remove him from future postings. Regards - David Lassiter
Regarding Kent Beuchert
David:
Based on what he wrote here, seems that he is an electric car proponent, though. What makes you think he's a shill?
Kent is a paid lobbyist for the Petroleum industry
Hi Kent. You are NOT an electric car proponent. You are a paid lobbyist. Look it up everybody.
Even more excess..
Why aim for such high performance, speed and range figures? The average car gets driven less than 50Km per day in city traffic at less than 80 Km/H. When consumers understand that their daily needs are easily achieved with low cost battery systems and vehicles then the electric car will come of age..
Why performance?
Look at the EV Smart Car in England.
Look at ZAP EV's in the U.S.
GEM has EVs. I am sure there are others that are inexpensive and underpowered. IMO
They are not taking the mass market by storm.
When Telsa introduced an EV that out performs almost any sports car made, people pay attention.
When Phoenix begins selling an SUT and SUV that performs in speed and acceleration as well as an comperable sized ICE .. this should start to change public perception that EV's are not just oversize golf carts or exotic sport cars. Hopefully with the correct marketing, with seeing a Phoenix SUT actually hauling 5 pasangers and a bed load of stuff, the pubic may change their perception of EVs to one that EVs can be used for main stream public uses.
Emission Credits Mandate Highway Ready Vehicles
I believe this info is in the article.
While it may make sense to reduce the range (and hence the number of batteries), the power must remain. The real questions are: How much does it cost to manufacture 10,000 of these battery packs? How fast can that cost be driven down?
Joe Farah