The Lithium-Ion Car

Advances in lithium-ion battery technology over the last few years have experts and enthusiasts alike wondering if the new batteries may soon make high-performance electric vehicles widely available. Now one company, Altair Nanotechnologies of Reno, NV, has announced plans to start testing its new batteries in prototype electric vehicles, with road tests scheduled to begin by year-end.

The company says its new electrode materials allow higher bursts of power, longer battery life, and more available energy storage capacity — and far quicker “fill-up” — than previous lithium-ion batteries. The goal: an electric car that performs as well as a conventional car. “The user experience will be similar, except the vehicle is quieter and it’s environmentally greener,” says Alan Gotcher, the company’s CEO.

..Gotcher says that, in addition to testing their prototype for safety and performance, they plan to submit the batteries to the U.S. Department of Energy for standardized tests of battery safety and performance, including lifetime.

If the batteries do hold up to tests, widespread adoption of such a vehicle still may depend on other factors, such as gas stations installing power stations for quick charging, which will require more than a standard outlet. Gotcher says these stations could benefit from batteries, which would make it possible to draw energy from the power grid at off peak hours, saving on electricity costs, and then deliver it quickly when driver’s need it.

Technology Review