Zoomi Life

Lithium pellets covered in lithium hydroxide

Research and development of better, more efficient, lighter, and stronger battery technologies has been taking off full steam lately. Researchers at MIT are working to find a better solution of chemicals for lithium-ion batteries, for instance, while another lab at MIT is working on lithium replacements as there may be lithium shortages soon.

Read More: Making Better & Cheaper EV Batteries

The South Korean company LG Chem has penned a deal with General Motors to build lithium-ion batteries for the Chevy volt until the end of 2015. The company will be setting up a new production line at its Ochang, S. Korea plant for the deal.

Read More: LG to Provide Batteries for the Chevy Volt

Tesla Motors has announced that they will be supplying the battery packs for the Daimler Smart ED. Well, 1,000 of them anyway (all lithium-ion), with chargers. The deal was penned and announced at the Detroit Auto Show, where the Smart ED (soon to be renamed to Smart ForTwo or a derivative) was said to be coming to America soon.

Read More: Tesla To Supply Batteries For Daimler’s Smart ED

Two manufacturers of lithium-ion battery technology here in the U.S. have applied for federal loans through a Department of Energy program.

Read More: Battery Bailout: A123, Ener1 Vie For Federal Dollars

Claiming they’re “five years behind Asians” in their ability to manufacture battery cells for electric vehicles, fourteen battery companies formed an alliance in order to push for federal funding for improved research and development. Their plan is to lobby the federal government to give them handouts so they can catch up to the Asians (mainly the Chinese) in technology and manufacturing.

Read More: Top American Battery Makers Form Alliance

The secretive company EEStor has been quietly talked up by potential manufacturers eager to use their new EESU (Electrical Energy Storage Unit). At the same time, EEStor themselves has kept pretty quiet, which only builds the anticipation. This company’s technology is a unique, light-weight electrical storage unit (battery) that can store extremely high amounts of energy.

Read More: EEStor’s Ultracapacitor Patent Revealed To the Public

One of the things that holds back electric car production and main stream acceptance is the life span of the average battery, be it lithium-ion, nickel-metal hydride, or standard lead acid. Since the bank of batteries in an electric vehicle amount to up to half it’s cost, this is obviously a large economic concern.

Read More: Southern California Edison’s 180,000 Mile Li-Ion Battery

In what could potentially be a revolutionary breakthrough for everything from laptops to electric cars, a South Korean team of researchers have made a major discovery in Lithium-Ion battery technology. A team of researchers at South Korea’s Hanyung University, led by professor Cho Jaephil, has claimed a discovery that could extend lithium ion battery energy capacity by up to 1000% or more.

Read More: Battery Life Breakthrough Could Increase Li-Ion Capacity by 1000%

When Warren Buffett buys stuff, people pay attention. Mr. Buffett, one of the richest men in the world, has the ability to move markets with his huge purchases - and it looks like he’s poised to influence another market - batteries for electric cars.
Mr. Buffett announced on Monday that he had agreed to [...]

Read More: Warren Buffett Invests in Chinese Battery Manufacturer