It’s no secret that there are many criticisms levied towards electric vehicles (EVs). While some contain more validity than others, one of the more relevant issues concerning EVs centers on range anxiety and the ability of an electric car to get you to your final destination. According to an article in NewScientist, IBM is looking to address and solve the limited range issue by pioneering new battery technology that may allow for extended ranges of up to 500 miles – pushing EVs into a range where they would be able to compete with most gas-powered cars.
Currently, electric vehicles utilize lithium-ion batteries, which tend to be heavy and rarely exceed distances of 100 miles of driving before needing to be recharged. IBM however is seeking to change that with the refinement of newer lithium-air batteries which offer higher density levels than virtually all rechargeable batteries available today.
How is this achieved though, and why does it matter? Well, whereas typical lithium-ion batteries are extremely heavy, offering much lower energy densities and requiring more energy consumption (by nature of its weight). Lithium-air batteries are lighter, weighing down a vehicle much less and providing more energy while driving. And it isn’t a negligible difference either; the idea behind such batteries would (in theory) make its way to the consumer and cause batteries to cost less — since fewer batteries are likely cheaper.
Of course it isn’t all rosy on the other side of the (electrical) fence. While lithium-ion batteries do not carry nearly as much energy density as their lithium-air counterparts, lithium-ion is a much more stable beast because of lithium-air batteries tendency to demonstrate chemical instability. So while they might offer greater distances and weigh less, it isn’t always a sure thing, which is a huge pitfall when talking about driving long ranges.
And that brings us right back to IBM and its plans to corner the market on lithium-air batteries. Why would IBM decide to push forward and spend time and resources on such an already unstable technology? According to IBM, and physicists in Switzerland, by utilizing a Blue Gene supercomputer a solution to the instability issues is now” looking very promising.” If things pan out, IBM is hoping to have a full working prototype ready by 2013, with later commercial batteries to follow by 2020.
That, however, leaves the question of how relevant the technology will be in seven years time, but apparently that isn’t a concern of IBM’s. Regardless, as electric cars begin to become more prevalent and companies continue to press EVs, ways of expanding range and refining current battery technology needs to be explored.
I will if it happens very soon before I buy a petrol machine :)
Unless it’s made of non toxic materials, weights nothing when empty, and can be charged in a couple minutes, then it’s still no way near as practical as liquid fuel. Also most north American electricity generated from coal???
P.S. my TDI gives me that.
all these things run on coal, oil, gas, solar, wind , nuclear, hydro; Electricity is just a medium of exchange or a way to move energy about. Think about it. even bicycles use these sources The bicycle engine, the human, eats food to convert to mechanical power. How is the food produced. .The electric car nonsense is just a sales tool. I don’t know why seemingly educated people are so ignorant.
The electric car isn’t nonsense. While I agree auto companies have botched the initial push for electric cars and took their sweet time, the electric car itself is the next step in car evolution. The key word here is step of course because thr EC wont solve the world’s energy crisis, it will however offset a great deal of carbon AND reduce the West’s need for foriegn oil to some degree. The wheel was invented long before the car, it’s a step in the right direction. Oil is a finite resource. C’mon Jesterking you seem smarter than this.
they should bring back the EV-1, but bush and his greedy oil friends killed it…
Long charge cable sticking out of the window and trailing to my car parked out front over night. Hmmm, I’d have to think about that one.
I just ride a motorcycle to save the plant. It’s way more fun too!
Unless it’s made of non toxic materials, weights nothing when empty, and can be charged in a couple minutes, then it’s still no way near as practical as liquid fuel. Also most north American electricity generated from coal???
Im wondering hydrogen cars with much more efficiency in mpg, would finally get more % of the car market. It’s SO eco and i feel it’s only HUGE oil companies that dont want to change the car consume orientation.
No. Most look like boring shit. And are boring.
Also they are just as environmentally bad as petrol. Since most electricity comes from power plants that burn loads of coal.
of course
I’m driving a Nissan Leaf and loving it! Would love it more if it had a 500 mile range!
500 miles at what speed? Yes if it can safely keep up with motorway traffic and not take 30 seconds to reach 60mph.
If they can install a decent heater, and make sure it starts at 50 below zero every time, it is cold up here in Alaska.