What would be your dream battery types?

I have several dreams pertaining to batteries.

They have the new Rechargeable Alkaline Maganese (RAM) batteries. They come in the standard cell sizes and have many benefits.

* Come fully charged.
* Starting voltage is 1.5v not 1.2.
* Long shelf life like regular batteries
* Actually last longer if you recharge them frequently
- Deeper discharges could actually shorten the useful life

I love R-CR123's, but they tend to hold only half the charge of a true CR123. If they could match, or exceed the capacity of regular CR123's, I think we ALL would convert to them.

:rock:

We already have Lithium AAA, AA, and 9v.
Some other battery types I wouldn't mind seeing are Lithium C and D cells.
Even Lithium 6v and 12v lantern-type batteries.
All of the above rechargeable -ahhh, heaven.

But my dream is something of science fiction. A battery run on fast decaying radioactive isotopes that run for a year. Maybe more, 3, 5, 7, or 10. Batteries like that would make flashlights with cooling Pelteir heatsinks a reality.

Which of these do you prefer, or you have your own dream? Let's hear it.

Dreams? How about a battery using metastable metallic hydrogen instead of lithium?

dfred said:

Dreams? How about a battery using metastable metallic hydrogen instead of lithium?

Click to expand...

Nice, but how do you pressurize a battery like that? Geeze, hate to be holding that flashlight when the battery pops. Ouch!

There's some theoretical possibility that MH could be metastable at far lower pressures than it takes to originally form.

But yea, if your talking about practical battery ideas, it is not a serious suggestion in any foreseeable timeframe. I was reading about Jupiter's MH the other day and with hydrogen being at the top of the alkali metal column, right above lithium, the battery idea occurred to me...

My dream battery will probably be forever a dream...

- Minimum of triple the energy density of current lithium-ion technology
- Same weight or lighter than current lithium-ion technology
- Extremely high rate discharge/charge capable (100C minimum)
- Completely environmentally and intrinsically safe
- Ability to be formed into shapes other than a cylinder or a rectangle
- Lifespan of 50 years or more
- No charge/discharge cycle count or depth restrictions

:sleepy:

It was such a nice dream...

Chris

A nuclear powered battery that comes in the standard sizes would be nice. Give your EDC a runtime of around 20 years or so. Of course the batteries would have to be safe to be around as well as cost effective.

Well, A123 systems is getting their with their nano-technology lithium-ions but... this is a dream right?

Safe to use and environmentally safe
USB port option on the battery pack to program max settings and when to shut off (for instance max 2 amp output and if it detects 4+ amp draw it will shut down. Also to see what state the pack is in with programming)
1.2VDC to 36VDC per cell voltage depending on chemistry (no need for multiple cells)
100mAH to 5,000mAH cell capacity in any size
300 watt hour per KG power density rating
100C discharge
100C recharge without overheating or damage
20 year life
Less than 5% self discharge rate per year
-100C to 100C operating temperatures
Resistant to overcharge
100G shock rating without damage
Cost to comparible capacity lead-acid wet cells
No exotic chargers required

I'll take a 26.5 pound 36VDC 100AH pack to start for my "modified" electric scooter (1000 watt brushless motor at 36VDC and 34 amps) Although my SVR 36VDC 14AH Absorbed Glass Mat 33.5 pound pack kicks out the amps (900 amps for 10 seconds) more power is always nice.

Since my competition AGM cells will probably give me at least 2 or 3 years of life, maybe A123 systems will have the 10-cell 36VDC 35AH packs perfected when I need a new set of batteries. I think they have solution to most of my needs although they don't rate the LIFE of the batteries.

10C recharge capablity without rise in temperature
5000 wh/ikg
No cycle life
No degradation over charge
Maintance free
NIMH price
Uses NIMH charger
No overdischarge problems
25C discharge capable
Cross compatable with Lithium and NIMH/NICD/Alkaline (Through two or one pack configuration)
10% discharge per year