Electricnick, The EV Revolution

If people worry about the electric vehicle, EV range due to the current state of the battery technology, fighting between different systems is not helping the EV gain mass reputation.

The gist is that instead of fighting and spreading fear around batteries, we should rejoice at the fact that two or three decades ago, EVs could barely go over 30 miles.  With fear, uncertainty and doom, FUD around lithium scare and heavier lead acid batteries, it might be good to bring back everything under perspective.

A Battery technology For Everyone.  We’ve said it over and over, no need to fight, there are plenty of battery solutions for everyone.  Small, light and high performance EVs can use Lithium that is lighter and more powerful.  Newer lithium-ion technologies have mostly cured the heat problems, albeit at an increased price.  However, the good news is that traditional Li-Io are starting to come down in price and with a good liquid cooling system, they can work well as we have seen in the Tesla Roadster.

Lead-acid based batteries would work very well for heavier vehicles.  The latest breakthroughs in lead-acid technology have squeezed more energy into them, made them lighter to finally only be 1/3 heavier than a conventional li-io.  They are particularly well suited for SUVs, crossovers and pickup trucks.

Tomorrow’s Hybrid Battery.  Add to this ultracapacitors and you have batteries on steroids.  Adding ultracaps to any EV, regardless of what battery technology it uses helps prevent wear on the main battery pack, plus adds a boost for extra bursts of energy.

So get fooled by lithium price and resource scares.  Lithium only makes 3 to 4% of a li-io battery.  If scientists found the lithium ore made a useful battery, we can only imagine what else they will fins in the next 5 years.

More reading on this subject: RedOrbit with improved lithium technology and Seeking Alpha talking about the new lithium price and resource scare.