IBM Creates 'Breathing' High-Density Lithium-Air Battery 582
MrSeb writes "As part of IBM's Battery 500 project — an initiative started in 2009 to produce a battery capable of powering a car for 500 miles — Big Blue has successfully demonstrated a light-weight, ultra-high-density, lithium-air battery. In it, oxygen is reacted with lithium to create lithium peroxide and electrical energy. When the battery is recharged, the process is reversed and oxygen is released — in the words of IBM, this is an 'air-breathing' battery. While conventional batteries are completely self-contained, the oxygen used in a lithium-air battery comes from the atmosphere, so the battery itself can be much lighter. The main thing, though, is that lithium-air energy density is a lot higher than conventional lithium-ion batteries: the max energy density of lithium-air batteries is theorized to be around 12 kWh/kg, some 15 times greater than li-ion — and more importantly, comparable to gasoline."
Re:Gasoline-like energy density (Score:5, Interesting)
How expensive is it?
How long does it take to charge?
How long can it hold its charge before it leaks?
How many recharge cycles can it do?
How much mass does it gain with use? (Score:3, Interesting)
the oxygen used in a lithium-air battery comes from the atmosphere, so the battery itself can be much lighter.
When the battery is recharged, the process is reversed and oxygen is released
The article was a bit brief, but from this read it seems that as the battery is discharged, it gains mass, but I'm just not seeing how much mass it would gain.
Also, if that thing releases pure oxygen when you charge it, I'm not charging that thing in my garage.
Comparable? (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Gasoline-like energy density (Score:2, Interesting)
Definitely true, we're not going to see anything more powerful than a 220V charger at home for the foreseeable future, you'll need to go to a station for a charge. But consider that there isn't even a low-flow gasoline tap on your house right now...
Recharge WHILE you drive! (Score:5, Interesting)
Remember that in the future the idea will be to charge your car in the car park or at home, not just on the road.
Actually, in the future, it is likely that you will be able to recharge while you are driving. Here is how it will works: automatic lane control and braking systems will enable cars to travel in "platoons", with just a few inches between cars. This will greatly extend the range of your car by reducing air resistance, but the cars can also be magnetically coupled, so they can push and pull each other. So if you are on a long trip, and your battery is low, the computer in your car can automatically negotiate with other cars in the platoon and purchase power. You can use this to coast without draining your battery, or even run your engine in reverse and recharge your batteries as you drive.
Re:Gasoline-like energy density (Score:4, Interesting)
I am more lazy. I dont want to plug it in. Why cant they make induction charging mats? Drive over it, the charge light comes on.
Re:Gasoline-like energy density (Score:5, Interesting)
Just think of the potential accidents that could happen with ordinary drivers operating dispensers of incredibly flammable gasoline on their own! We need automated facilities, or at least trained technicians, if we are to dispense this hazardous fuel to our cars. And imagine a future with high-capacity gasoline tanks buried underground in the middle of a city, slowly leaching fuel into the surrounding soil in almost everybody's neighborhood!
Re:off by 150 (Score:4, Interesting)
The Nissan Leaf [plugincars.com] draws 34 kWh per 100 miles, or .34 kWh (340 Wh) per mile. So that number is in the right neighborhood, if a little low.
Re:Gasoline-like energy density (Score:5, Interesting)
"Sadly a Leaf cant make my 40 mile commute and back."
That's funny, I just drove one while I had my Taurus' transmission worked on.
Temps were around 60F and I did an 80.2 mile drive out to Garden Grove and back.
I'll be doing the same thing again tonight. Fridays are my Garden Grove work nights.
I live in the middle of downtown Riverside.
Your numbers make zero sense in my personal experience.