Sandia Labs Seeks Next-Gen Lithium-Ion Batteries
As part of the Department of Energy-funded
FreedomCAR program, Sandia National Laboratories' Power Sources Technology Group
is researching ways to make lithium-ion batteries work longer and safer. The
research could lead to these batteries being used in new hybrid electric
vehicles (HEVs) in the next five to ten years.
Sandia researcher, Brad Hance, with lithium-ion battery designed for a hybrid car.
As part of the Department of Energy-funded FreedomCAR program, Sandia National Laboratories’ Power Sources Technology Group is researching ways to make lithium-ion batteries work longer and safer. The research could lead to these batteries being used in new hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) in the next five to ten years.
“Batteries are a necessary part of hybrid electric-gasoline powered vehicles and someday, when the technology matures, will be part of hybrid electric-hydrogen fuel cell powered vehicles,” says Dan Doughty, manager of Sandia’s Advanced Power Sources Research and Development Department. “Current hybrid vehicles use nickel-metal hydride batteries, but a safe lithium-ion battery will be a much better option for the hybrids.”
He notes a lithium-ion battery has four times the energy density of lead-acid batteries and two to three times the energy density of nickel-cadmium and nickel-metal hydride batteries. It also has the potential to be one of the lowest-cost battery systems.
And — it’s a big AND — advances in battery technology will lower costs in home-based solar and wind generation of electricity.
Posted: Thu - January 19, 2006 at 11:55 AM