8bitfuture:

New technology could halve the cost of electric car batteries.

Startup company Envia has demonstrated electric car batteries which are able to store twice as much energy as current models. Once fully developed, the system could halve the cost of batteries - currently up to $10,000 or more.

Before the technology can be used commercially though, the developers must find a way to at least double the amount of times they can be charged and recharged, before the technology will be cost effective.

To last the life of a vehicle, they need to be able to recharge over 1,000 times and still maintain 80 percent of their original storage capacity. The company is still testing the new batteries, but after only 400 charges, they have dropped to 72 percent of capacity, Kumar says. Solving the problem could require substantial improvements to the electrodes. The cells also have to be put through several other tests of performance and safety before they’re qualified for use in vehicles.

popmech:

Electric cars for real? PopMech looks into the future, June 1967.

8bitfuture:

Electric car can be used to power homes.

A new system developed by Nissan allows the electric ‘Leaf’ car to be plugged into a house, providing it with energy. Leaf owners will have to buy a separate Power Control System (PCS) box, which is installed in their home.

According to Nissan, the Leaf’s 24kW per hour battery is enough to power a home’s lights, fan, television, fridge and other appliances for two days. 
In an ideal world, the technology would operate in a smart home fitted with solar panels and fuel cells, thus free from the electrical grid. 

However, until those types of homes are the norm, it could still be used to reduce a household’s electricity bills. The car would be charged at night through the electrical grid but homeowners might use the vehicle’s battery to power certain appliances and devices during peak times to save money. It could also be used to power the home during blackouts. 

The PCS box will go on sale at the end of March in Japan, where it will cost more than US$6,300.

(Source: metro.co.uk)

givemecars:

Tesla Roadster (by Scott Dukes)

China’s Chery Automotive, Taiwan’s BenQ team up to produce li-ion separator films

In recent years, China’s Chery Automotive has displayed a growing fondness for electric vehicles (EVs). From the company’s Riich M1, to the S18, its Tiggo 3 and even the QQ, Chery’s focus on delivering EVs to its customer base is really unmatched by any of its Chinese competitors. The company’s lineup of EVs, none of which are particularly strong sellers, continues to grow on a regular basis. With Chery’s battery-powered focus in mind, it’s not at all surprising to learn that the company has formed a joint venture (JV) with BenQ to develop lithium-ion battery technology.

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