Will There Be a Winner?
I've noticed of late a
number of articles reporting on events and technology
enhancements relating to batteries—all types of batteries from
those used in laptops to those powering hybrid vehicles. As
examples, consider these news items: There are new restrictions
on lithium-ion batteries which may affect your next airline
flight. Lead-acid batteries for hybrid vehicles could be
available in the next few years sporting much higher performance
than current ones. And new nanotechnology developed for
lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles might more than
triple their storage capacity as well as increase safety.
If you traveled by air this year, you
probably know firsthand about the U.S. Department of
Transportation ruling that took effect on Jan. 1, 2008. It
concerns lithium-ion batteries which are considered hazardous
materials, especially onboard commercial airlines. You no longer
can pack spare lithium-ion batteries in your checked luggage. If
you frequently scattered extra batteries in with your clothes
and toiletries on previous flights, that practice now is
prohibited.
However, it is all right to put them in your
carry-on luggage if the batteries are in their original
packaging or placed in individual plastic bags. Putting the
batteries into individual plastic bags will prevent them from
accidentally short-circuiting. However, you are limited to
bringing on only two spares. Of course, the ruling does not
apply to batteries installed in personal electronic devices. You
still can carry on your cell phone, camera, and laptop.
According to a recent article in the MIT
Technology Review, Australian researchers have developed a
lead-acid battery for hybrid cars that packs more power than
current batteries and does it at a fraction of the cost. Billed
as the UltraBattery, it combines standard lead-acid technology
with high-energy supercapacitors. The supercapacitors can
generate megabursts of power over megacycles of use and not
deteriorate significantly. The battery is said to last four
times longer than conventional ones and can be manufactured at
25% the cost.
To support these claims, in mid-January, a
Honda hybrid car was outfitted with an UltraBattery system and
driven more than 100,000 miles on a test track. At the end of
the test run, the batteries were inspected and found to be in
perfect condition.
Moving over to electric-only vehicles,
scientists at Stanford University are working on a new electrode
technology for lithium-ion batteries that, according to the lead
researcher on the project, is revolutionary. Initially targeted
for smaller electronic devices such as laptops and cell phones,
the technology replaces the traditional carbon-based anode with
multiple silicon nanowires that have been embedded with lithium.
The nanobattery is expected to produce 10 times more power than
existing lithium-ion batteries.
Although a conventional silicon anode
exhibits a higher storage capacity than carbon, it also has a
much shorter life. In operation, the silicon anode swells as
lithium atoms are absorbed during charging and shrinks when the
battery is discharged. This expansion and contraction degrade
the silicon and likewise the battery's performance. On the other
hand, the nanowires are not adversely affected by the movements
and last much longer. It is expected that the nanowire
technology could be adopted for use in electric cars.
Whether supercapacitor lead-acid batteries or silicon
nanowire lithium-ion batteries meet consumer expectations of
plentiful energy at a reasonable cost, only time will tell.
Hopefully, the wait won't be too long.