GM's got a new car battery on the horizon...

[ChrisGarrett]

http://gizmodo.com/5889295/new-elect...and-halve-cost

"Well, this is an exciting bit of news for green drivers. Envia Systems has come up with a new battery technology that could give a $20,000 electric car a range of 300 miles to a charge. Yes, please?

The General Motors-backed Envia Systems has come up with a new process that creates a battery with an energy density of 400 watt-hours per kilogram. To put that in perspective, the lithium cells found in most electric cars today only pack about 100-150 Wh/kg. Even the batteries on Tesla's forthcoming Model S only pack in around 240Wh/kg. In terms of cost, when it was first produced, the Nissan Leaf's battery cost around $375 per kilowatt-hour. The Envia battery is projected to cost just $125 per kilowatt-hour.

The new magic comes from combining a "High Capacity Manganese Rich (HCMR)" cathode and a silicon-carbon nanocomposite anode, and then passing the lithium ions though a new, secret electrolyte formula (Powerade? Probably Powerade) that allows for increased voltage."

Kind of neat. Looks as if the Navy has tested and confirmed this, as well.

Chris

[tobrien]

nice! i wonder how long till this stuff is feasible for our lights? hmmm

[Surnia]

isn't that part of Panasonic's roadmap though as well though? They're pushing Ni cathodes and C anodes, then switching to an Si Alloy for their 4.0Ah 18650s as posted here. Granted Envia is using a Manganese cathode....

[jtr1962]

I wonder what the cycle life is? The cost and energy density sound great though.