The UltraBattery , Cheaper to Build While Giving More Power to Hybrids // Current

by EddieStarr | October 17, 2008 at 04:57 am

284 views | 9 Recommendations | 5 comments

" Earlier this year in January, Australia's CSIRO Energy Technology divulged about a new battery for hybrid cars called UltraBattery. It is technically a lead-acid battery and supercapacitator in one. Lead-acid generally can't be used for hybrid cars because they develop chemical deposits when subject to rapid and continuous charging and discharging.

That's a loss for the hybrid vehicle industry because lead acid has the capacity to store large amounts of energy. By coupling it with a supercapacitator though, it can do its purpose sans the problematic chemical deposits.

According to CSIRO, UltraBattery exhibits up to 50 percent more power than current NiMH batteries and would cost around one-third to one-fourth the latter's price.

In Japan, Furukawa Battery Company will start manufacturing UltraBatteries by mid-2009 while East Penn from Pennsylvania will make the batteries for the USA..."

Previous tests show the UltraBattery has a life cycle that is at least four times longer and produces 50 per cent more power than conventional energy storage systems. The technology is approximately 70 per cent cheaper than the batteries currently used in hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs).

Director of the CSIRO Energy Transformed National Research Flagship, Dr John Wright, is pleased to see an Australian-developed technology gain attention on a world stage.

“The UltraBattery is an exciting product and CSIRO is delighted to be working closely with two leading manufacturers to introduce the technology to the automotive market on a global scale,” he said.

“This technology could significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the transport sector by lowering the cost of hybrid electric vehicles and increasing their uptake, meaning that we could be looking at success on both commercial and environmental fronts.

“The UltraBattery is a satisfying example of CSIRO innovation having international impact and reinforces the valuable link between quality research and commercial development.”

The technology is scheduled to be commercially available in the automotive market and for motive power applications throughout Japan, Thailand, North America, Mexico and Canada within two years.

Source:

http://www.csiro.au/news/UltraBattery4HybridCars.html

EddieStarr, I like this story. It's good stuff.

EddieStarr, I like this story. Energy storage: CSIRO Energy Technology divulged about a new battery for hybrid cars called UltraBattery. If it comes with a supercapacitor in it, it will be a hit. The capacitor takes the surge during start ot mountain. Good Post. Edmund thanks for explainer. Sounds exciting, Australia strong enough to industrialize during credtit crisis ?

EddieStarr, I knew there had to be better ways. Now if we could get it market!

They need to use the FireFly Oasis battery as its lead acid battery. That would make an

amazing combo.

Is the capacitor component, a module or somehow built into the battery?

Maybe it can be sold as an attachment and just added to the Oasis battery.

That would be fantasitc.

First Flagged at 5:48 AM, Oct 17, 2008 by Edmund Jenks

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