New battery approaches gasoline energy density

[PA5COR]

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2011/08/12/1005272/-New-battery-approaches-gasoline-energy-density?via=sidebyuserrec

You can't buy a lithium-air battery (yet). You've probably never even heard of one. They were only invented 15 years ago, and for now, they're still just laboratory curiosities.
But with the latest lab breakthrough (http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2011/better-battery-storage-0725.html), the lithium-air battery (also known as the lithium-oxygen battery) is nosing up into the energy density region seen in gasoline. If you're thinking battery-powered car, maybe your sights are too low. How does battery-powered airplane sound?


Since lithium is the lightest metal (in weight), any battery using lithium will be light. But since lithium-air batteries also have a light cathode, they are the lightest batteries known.
What's NewNow researchers at MIT have added carbon nanotubes to the cathode, with spectacular results. With a lot more surface area, the cathode can now hold a lot more lithium oxide, which means that the battery can run a lot longer before it needs recharging. The result is four times the energy density of the previous Li-air record holder: the old record of about 600 Watt-hours per kilogram has been upped to about 2500 Wh/kg, in the fully discharged state. This is getting close to the theoretical maximum is 3215 Wh/kg for a discharged lithium-air battery.

Rest: follow the linky.
Might give portable radio a new life ;)

[KC2UGV]

I thought LiFePo were dense... These things are freaking sweet. Could make e-Bikes really take off.

[n2ize]

Not to mention longer rc flights.

[kb2vxa]

Your reactions remind me of the prophet John and the "little book" that was sweet in his mouth but made his stomach bitter. It's a lab curiosity, a revolutionary battery that will change the world... SWEET! OK, when or even if it ever goes into production the price is not going to sit well.

She said well yeah I know but when
We did - there was one thing we weren't
Really thinking of and that's money -
Money changes everything
Money, money changes everything
We think we know what we're doin'
That don't mean a thing
It's all in the past now
Money changes everything

[n2ize]

LiPo's and LiFePO's were once lab curiosities. Did they change the world ? Yes in many ways they have. Greater power density => Smaller battery size => smaller electronic and mechanical devices that can run for long time periods and outperform their larger predecessors.

[kc7jty]

Isn't lithium toxic?

[suddenseer]

I invested a small amount of money in Nevada Lithium mining 2 years ago. This is old news, however the investment has returned 500% so far.

[kc7jty]

Lithium is wild chit man:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94E7ogLHZEA

Ever hear of a hydrogen bomb? How about a lithium bomb? Watch a lithium bomb that was 3x bigger that the designers predicted:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5_9Gi7w19Y
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R5_9Gi7w19Y) Smell those roasting coconuts? That's your balls on fire.


http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/Usa/Tests/Castle.html

(http://nuclearweaponarchive.org/Usa/Tests/Castle.html)

The use of natural lithium would be important to the ability of the US to rapidly expand its nuclear stockpile during the Cold War (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_War) arms race (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_arms_race).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Castle

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=94E7ogLHZEA)

[KC2UGV]

Even more exciting:
http://techblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2011/08/inventor-working-on-thorium-po.html

H (http://techblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2011/08/inventor-working-on-thorium-po.html)owever, the "No More Nukes" crew will kill this one quick.

[NQ6U]

Even more exciting:
http://techblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2011/08/inventor-working-on-thorium-po.html

I wonder if that article is correct. It claims that a 500lb (227kg) thorium "engine" puts out 250 MW—the equivalent of 3352 BHP.

[kc7jty]

don't try this at home:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJGqC4vXBms&feature=related

g (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jJGqC4vXBms&feature=related)ood for the cheese grater:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mdh7cLhqNH8&feature=relmfu

[n2ize]

Even more exciting:
http://techblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2011/08/inventor-working-on-thorium-po.html

H (http://techblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2011/08/inventor-working-on-thorium-po.html)owever, the "No More Nukes" crew will kill this one quick.

This car will have 2 mortal enemies right off the bat. The fossil fuel industry and the "no nukes man" crowd. the "no nukes man" crowd will declare it to be a deadly atomic reactor for which there are no safe levels and, the fossil fuel industry will pay off whomever it takes to squash the idea. They might even recruit the "no nukes man" crowd to help them/

It's ironic that the "no nukes man" crowd and the fossil fuel industry enjoy a somewhat beneficial symbiotic relationship.

[KC2UGV]

I wonder if that article is correct. It claims that a 500lb (227kg) thorium "engine" puts out 250 MW—the equivalent of 3352 BHP.

At this point it's all theoretical. They haven't built one yet.

[kb2vxa]

Theoretical all well and good but please don't insult my intelligence by telling me you're going to put railroad locomotive power under the hood of a production car! Then there is the BS about steam-electric motive power, does anyone remember steam turbine locomotives? They exhausted steam like any other so they needed tons of water, now please don't tell me you can fit that equipment AND a cooling tower to recycle the water in a firkin CAR. Good grief Charlie Brown, at this point I'm about to choke on bullshit so please excuse me while I worship at the altar of the Porcelain God. Oh and BTW, does anybody have a chunk of lithium in case I decide to render a burnt offering?

This pubic disservice massage broght to you by your friendly neighborhood grumpy old bastid.

[kb2vxa]

Accidental duplicate post deleted.

[KC2UGV]

Theoretical all well and good but please don't insult my intelligence by telling me you're going to put railroad locomotive power under the hood of a production car! Then there is the BS about steam-electric motive power, does anyone remember steam turbine locomotives? They exhausted steam like any other so they needed tons of water, now please don't tell me you can fit that equipment AND a cooling tower to recycle the water in a firkin CAR. Good grief Charlie Brown, at this point I'm about to choke on bullshit so please excuse me while I worship at the altar of the Porcelain God. Oh and BTW, does anybody have a chunk of lithium in case I decide to render a burnt offering?

This pubic disservice massage broght to you by your friendly neighborhood grumpy old bastid.

You don't have to use water for the steam. There's lots of other things we can use. Like ethylene glycol. And, the steam will not be pushing pistons, but a generator to charge a battery.

And, they already did, so you can shelve your disbelief:
http://techblog.dallasnews.com/cadillacthorium.jpg