The Race to Create a Better Battery

It's a marathon. Perhaps a multi-century long ironperson triathalon. "Breakthrough" moments are not really as described because we are not all driving around EV's. You will know when the "breakthrough" occurs because we will have a new "Bill Gates".

What breakthrough do we need exactly?

As of now our present common lithium based battery tech packs nearly 20 times as much energy per volume as the lead acid batteries of ~30 years ago did that were running the first generation of EV's that tried to enter the mass market but largely failed due to the problem if 'If we only had a battery systems that could hold at least 10x the energy in the same volume as we have now.' they could compete with the IC engine on range and power.

We have the batteries. We just don't have the engineers/marketing that wants to work together to put that much battery capacity in a vehicle plus have the battery and vehicle price down to where its practical for mass market at the same time..

What is missing? Economic feasibility. That was missing from PV for a long time, but the industry has matured, and is now ready to leave the Federal Investment tax credit behind. I fully expect it will be gone by the end of 2016. It worked, and your kids and grandkids will be the beneficiaries. You paid for it. My parents bought moon landings. Thanks , Pop.

The achievement in feasibility was the result of the tax credits driven mostly by incentives funded by taxpayers. (society created public investors). The same will happen with batteries. I think it is a noble thing. This is how drug and vaccine discoveries, clean water and air, educational institutions, parks, get funded. Thank God it's not Donald Trump driving these activities.

"We have the batteries. We just don't have the engineers/marketing that wants to work together to put that much battery capacity in a vehicle plus have the battery and vehicle price down to where its practical for mass market at the same time."

We just don't have anybody willing to sell a 60 thousand dollar car for 30 thousand dollars. As soon as we do, they will be everywhere. So no, we do not have the batteries for a small enough price. But we are getting there.

"We just don't have anybody willing to sell a 60 thousand dollar car for 30 thousand dollars."

If they do, they won't be in business for very long.

Oh wait, there are many who are pushing for that...many politicians.

We are getting there....

There is a report on IHS that US motor vehicles had an average mpg of 14 in 1923 and 17.6 mpg in 2013 [which had hardly improved since 1991].

Looks like the new technology is getting there faster.

They must be including heavy trucks in those figures! My first car, a '62 mid size with small V8 & 2 speed automatic got 22MPG consistently and I remember other cars back then that could get 35MPG on a trip. My '04 Dakota QC 4X4 V8 auto gets 17 to 22 depending on roads and temperature (better in hot weather), my CRV about 25 or so, my minivan 20 to 26. My SIL had a F350 diesel crew cab I used on a couple of trips and got 17-19 in stop n go traffic. New 'cars' get around 35 now-a-days. What are you using for your figures??

Thanks for info.

It was the entire vehicle fleet. Reference below, hope it works.....

http://insights.globalspec.com/article/1378/vehicle-fuel-economy-little-changed-since-1991-researchers-say

I guess you have 20 year + old trucks, buses and taxis which emit a cloud of black smoke whenever they open the throttle, just like England. The commercials must drop the average a lot, with many tons to move.

Personally, last 3 cars (diesel, manual) have done 40 miles/US gallon year on year, first was1991 model direct injection 2 litre Austin, second swirl chamber 1.9 litre Peugeot [not quite so efficient], current 1.5 litre direct injection 7 year old Renault does 42 m.p.usg - about same horsepower as Austin. I drive for economy, about 56 mph cruise out of town, but lots of town 30 mph max (if you can reach that between traffic lights) although I have never done routine daily "rush hour" drive.

The petrols before that (usg) did 30 mpg (1966 model), 30 mpg, 36 mpg ('76), 38 mpg but only weighed 17000 lb compared to the bigger crash-ready, ones later which were over a tonne weight.

In the 1960s, cars here lasted 7 years average (mostly due to rust-moth), now it is about 14 - so it takes a long time to change the fleet.

I would say that everything changed with lithium ion batteries...that was definitely a leap forward....they made drill motors as strong as plug in....and watches run for 10 years...