If this is true, the day of a viable electric car may be soon.

[Mugu]

Nanotechnology yields a breakthrough in battery life

Stanford researchers have found a way to use silicon nanowires to reinvent the rechargeable lithium-ion batteries that power laptops, iPods, video cameras, cell phones, and countless other devices.

The new version, developed through research led by Yi Cui, assistant professor of materials science and engineering, produces 10 times the amount of electricity of existing lithium-ion, known as Li-ion, batteries. A laptop that now runs on battery for two hours could operate for 20 hours, a boon to ocean-hopping business travelers.

"It's not a small improvement," Cui said. "It's a revolutionary development."


Read the rest of the article at: http://nanotechwire.com/news.asp?nid=5413

[Old Codger]

1. heard of that BUT

I heard about that but the problem with those batteries is they tend to overheat and blow up. There is another technology out there that does a lot better than those do and are safer , Not sure what they are called just got a glimpse of that broadcast . I am watching to see if it is re-run... I have faith that they will solve the problems with batteries ok. Also anpother breakthrough in Hydrogen is a cheap fast way to get hydrogen out of water using aluminum gallium alloy, this is even more promising than the electric car system in that there is no eco backlash in disposing of batteries the only byproduct of burning hydrogen is water.

[eppur_se_muova]

2. Aluminum to H2 is basically the same as a NON-RECHARGABLE battery.

Electrical energy is "stored" in the form of an electrode material, which is then consumed irreversibly (under cell conditions). There is no real advantage over rechargable batteries.

The Al/Ga alloy was discussed a few months back in E/E Forum.