Big Breakthrough for 'Massless' Energy Storage

I am intrigued by the concept, I'm just not sure it would work in actual real world circumstances....I would have to know more about the structure and vulnerabilities associated with this tech...not to mention the cost, energy density, charge discharge integrity and longevity...If a section shorts out, how do you replace it? ...or you don't...How strong is it compared to existing structural materials?...It seems that the cost would be prohibitive for the return, they make it sound like they could replace the existing structure of a car and eliminate the battery pack, I'm not buying that, I would have to be convinced...

I too am intrigued by this. I have but two concerns.

My first concern will likely be mitigated by strategic engineering design but if the battery is part of the structural integrity of the vehicle, how does one replace the battery and retain vehicle integrity?

My second concern is how will this battery react when an accident occurs that breaks the structural elements that are also the battery?

I agree with SE and redfred, it could very well be a "Spork", something required to perform two different functions and therefore does neither function well.

At our company, a couple of us have discussed making the structure of the vehicle be part of the battery for at least a couple of decades, but the problem of what happens during and after a crash has prevented us from spending any significant time or money on it.

Setting aside the claimed structural implications, if the carbon fiber acts as the electrode and conductor what serves to insulate the innards of the battery from the chassis and passengers? Does adding an external insulating layer, which must have some structural properties, defeat the whole concept?

Typically the chassis of a vehicle is already the return conductor.

More and better car fires......

Anyone actually bother to read the linked article? The title and claims of this continuing 'concept' are marketing-level misleading.

"We are really only limited by our imaginations here..."

Well you got that right.

This is going to require a lot of practical real-world development and testing before I get excited over yet another battery 'revolution' that in theory should work but in practice goes no where for numerous practical and/or scientific reasons/hurdles.

I guess we all agree, more efficient but more dangerous.