From: Science Daily, http://www.sciencedaily.com/upi/inde...-batteries.xml

"BOSTON, Feb. 10 (UPI) -- Massachusetts researchers claim they are on the verge of making the first significant change in battery design since the 19th century.

Joel E. Schindall, of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Laboratory for Electromagnetic and Electronic Systems, says the lab is using nanotechnology to develop the first significant and economically viable alternative to conventional batteries in more than 100 years.

Schindall, John G. Kassakian and Riccardo Signorelli are using nanotube structures to improve on an energy storage device called an ultracapacitor.

Capacitors store energy as an electrical field, making them more efficient than standard batteries, which get their energy from chemical reactions.

Ultracapacitors are capacitor-based storage cells that provide quick, massive bursts of instant energy. They are sometimes used in fuel-cell vehicles to provide an extra burst for accelerating into traffic and climbing hills.

The findings were presented at the 15th International Seminar on Double Layer Capacitors and Hybrid Energy Storage Devices in Deerfield Beach, Fla.

Copyright 2006 by United Press International. All Rights Reserved."

Very interesting and I think it will only be a matter of time and with the price of Fuel going up as I type this. I think it is going to add to how quick the research happens. The technology is going to come and I think it is about time.

Terry

I've been following ultracapacitors for a while but their discharge characteristics requires more 'glue' logic. A battery will give up its energy at a fairly constant voltage level. But an ultracapacitor (any capacitor) has a fairly rapid drop in voltage as it gives up its energy. It will take a fairly sophisticated switching network to optimize ultracapactor performance as a storage device. Not impossible but a non-trivial task.

Still, a combined, multiple ultra capacitor network combined with Li cells would be a match made in heaven. The high charge/discharge rates of ultracapacitors would mitigate the lower C rates of Li yet let us use the high energy densities of Li chemistry.

My 03 Prius has a bank of 48 NiMH battery packs. I would love to replace them with 'smart' modules combining ultracapacitors and Li cells. It would not be enough to run EV only but it would expand the duration of stealth modes.

Bob Wilson

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Actually lithium has a much better C-rate than just several years ago. Existing LG-chem LiIon cells can kick out 3 kW per kg and A123's new cells now being manufactured for power tools can charge / discharge 90% of capacity in just 5 minutes (ie at least 10C).

But I still think you're right - ultracaps paired with high energy LiIon could be a very good combination for longevity.

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The 2000-2003 Prius has a bank of 38 NiMH battery packs, @ 7.2V each, Total 273.6V nominal.

The 2004-2006 Prius has a bank of 28 NiMH battery packs ,@ 7.2V each, Total 201.6V nominal.

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Maybe he modded the battery pack for plugin operation?

Actually lithium has a much better C-rate than just several years ago. Existing LG-chem LiIon cells can kick out 3 kW per kg and A123's new cells now being manufactured for power tools can charge / discharge 90% of capacity in just 5 minutes (ie at least 10C).

But I still think you're right - ultracaps paired with high energy LiIon could be a very good combination for longevity.

That would be cool, whould it extend the battery/stelth usage time?

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