Probably everyone who reads this post uses Lithium batteries. They are used in our phones, toys, and tools. Nowadays some companies produce cars using them (Tesla, for example). If properly handled, they seem harmless. But, when misused, they become small bombs. Just take a look at a recent article about Galaxy Note 7:
https://konwersatorium1-ms-pjwstk.blogspot.com/2016/10/week-4-2410-30102016-what-catastrophe.html
or watch this movie:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1n2ue9QmdM
Thanks to advanced technology and billions of dollars invested in batteries research by companies throughout the world we can enjoy efficient (compared to other batteries) storage of electric power.
Compared to other available power sources used by humans (fuel, for this example), batteries are expensive and inefficient, mostly due to long recharge time. That is why electric road transportation cannot compete with gasoline, despite the fact that electric engines weigh less, are safer, and way more efficient than gasoline ones. They don't need such devices attached like a gearbox or a clutch. If we were able to store electricity as efficiently as fuel, "normal" cars would be gone in no time.
You probably also have heard about graphene. Inventors of this carbon structure have been awarded with the Nobel prize. It was also quite popular subject in Poland, thanks to the company Nano Carbon, which was first to produce it on an industrial scale.
https://konwersatorium1-ms-pjwstk.blogspot.com/2016/10/week-4-2410-30102016-what-catastrophe.html
or watch this movie:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z1n2ue9QmdM
Thanks to advanced technology and billions of dollars invested in batteries research by companies throughout the world we can enjoy efficient (compared to other batteries) storage of electric power.
Compared to other available power sources used by humans (fuel, for this example), batteries are expensive and inefficient, mostly due to long recharge time. That is why electric road transportation cannot compete with gasoline, despite the fact that electric engines weigh less, are safer, and way more efficient than gasoline ones. They don't need such devices attached like a gearbox or a clutch. If we were able to store electricity as efficiently as fuel, "normal" cars would be gone in no time.
You probably also have heard about graphene. Inventors of this carbon structure have been awarded with the Nobel prize. It was also quite popular subject in Poland, thanks to the company Nano Carbon, which was first to produce it on an industrial scale.
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| Carbon structure. Wikipedia |
Those two seemingly separate topics have recently received a common point. A Chinese company called Dongxu Electronics have recently presented first graphene battery.
According to Dongxu chairman Li Zhaoting, the battery presented above has 4800 mAh (which is 1.5 times of power stored in standard phone cells) can be charged in 15 minutes and can last for 3500 recharge cycles. Common Li batteries need a lot more time to gain such charge and their lifespan is about 7 times shorter than the presented device. It is also said that graphene batteries would allow bendable batteries to be produced.
So far, executives of Dongxu have not revealed when graphene batteries will be available in stores. Until then specification and performance of such devices are only promises. However, I do believe it can be next "big thing" in the technology world. What do you think? How long will we have to wait until such devices will be available in local shops? Do you think electric cars are the future?
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| Graphene battery pack. digitaltrends.com |
So far, executives of Dongxu have not revealed when graphene batteries will be available in stores. Until then specification and performance of such devices are only promises. However, I do believe it can be next "big thing" in the technology world. What do you think? How long will we have to wait until such devices will be available in local shops? Do you think electric cars are the future?
Comments
If they are made of graphene will they be
biodegradable? If yes, that would be great, because today's batteries are killing environment.
I believe that electric cars are the future, but not in their today's form. They have to be more refined, efficient and there have to be better infrastructure (places to charge etc.)
One of the problems with the battery is that it discharges when the car isn't used. There are other factors that affect battery capacity like temperature, frequent full-charging etc.
Today I think differently, I have driven electric cars a couple of times and I must admit, they move smoothly, they are very economic, unbelievably silent, but also (I was quite surprised about it) accelerate very fast. I think that they are definitely the future of transportation, because of the more and more popular opinions and strict laws regarding saving the environment and not polluting it.
Talking about electro mobiles I’d really like to have Tesla. I think it’s a big step in our history. Elon Mask is making a really great work with his team. I’d really like to have an electric bicycle to travel on longer distances in summer. The perfect solution would be if I’m able to charge it while rolling the pedals.
Another interesting branch in this topic is electric planes. In 2016, Solar Impulse 2 was the first solar-powered aircraft to complete circumnavigation of the world.
I hope the graphene batteries will be soon available because this would revolutionize our energetic sector.
Tesla might be a good indication of how the future will look like. Maybe it does not perform as well as some of the petrol cars, but the next models might change that.
The electric car industry will also thrive on this invention, I hope that with graphene batteries they will quickly replace traditional cars.
What about electric cars? I think it is a future of transportation. However, I hope that petrol cars won't extinct. Electric cars are undoubtedly more efficient, more ecological than cars nowadays. They are also much more expensive, so to make them more popular countries should have some tax refunds to make them more affordable for normal people.
Sadly, fast changes are not exactly in the interest of big companies and we probably have to exhaust our natural resources if we want new technologies to take over. Maybe electric cars are not so fast and comfortable to use but we should compromise if we want to protect our environment.
As for battery life - there is no limit to perfection. I always travel with a power bank to charge my gadgets and I have no problems with that, but, to tell the truth, it would be better without this huge heavy thing in my bag.
If somebody will sell those batteries, take my money, I want them unless they won't cost my annual earnings.
When you wrote about electric cars, only one thing came to my mind - Tesla. I'm Elon Musk's fan not only when it comes to cars, but also I admire his SpaceX program. I would like to own my piece of this technology and drive Tesla every day.
I don't think the batteries will be something really big. This invention will just make charging easier. This could be like 4G in batteries world.
does some oil companies mob governments and smaller companies?
First of all, I'm not interested in this topic and that's why I know about it very little. Of course, progress is very impressive, but I know it will be a lot of time before I can afford it.
Second, nowadays there are some "problems" with electric cars (as many people above said) such as charging, range or speed. Car is very important thing in my life - tool for move and just pleasure and convenience ;) It would take me a lot of time every day to "solve" it (I mean e.g. waiting for charging).
On the other hand, I'm not opponent and I really look forward to satisfying solutions. The same with smartphones, laptops and so on. I keep my fingers crossed!
Guys, do you know there is a plan to build the most modern station in Warsaw? Look at it: http://autokult.pl/28688,najnowoczesniejsza-stacja-benzynowa-swiata-powstanie-w-warszawie
Two biggest problems of electric vehicles are price and accumulating electricity. While graphene batteries (at least at the beginning of their series production) may not be able to reduce the former, they seem to be very promising to solve the latter.
In my opinion electric cars are indeed the future. There are a number of advantages of electric engines, just to mention a few: their efficiency reaching more than 90% (while combustion engines are only up to 40% efficient) or constant torque.
Regarding more powerful batteries of cell phones, I don't need them as badly, but it would be nice to have one.
These reasons are why I hope the idea of graphene batteries will be successful and they will start mass production of such baterries as soon as possible.
One more interesting thing about Tesla's batteries:
https://electrek.co/2016/07/26/tesla-upgrade-software-limited-battery-pack-model-s-x/
1. Battery costs are dropping fast,
2. Longer range, affordable electric cars are coming,
3. More charging stations are coming,
4. Auto industry is embracing EVs,
5. The global imperative to cut carbon pollution and oil dependency,
6. Low Maintenance.
I do not agree with you when it comes to speed. Look at Tesla Model S - 249 km/h. In my opinion it is a really nice score.
Also i looked up prices of cars, and it seems really interesting that Tesla costs nearly as much as new Mercedes.
when you produce electricity with coal, and use it in cars, you only have to worry about pollution coming from power plant, not from thousands of cars. And I am sure its easier to filter smoke from plant than make sure that every car has proper parts, like catalyzer.
It's nice to see that finally something is changing and maybe we'll be able to make a move forward quite soon - it's very promising at first, but I'm pretty sure that it'll take some more time until this technology gets popular (and funded) enough to be used in phones or likewise.
In any case, I have high hopes for that :).
Electric Cars, Electric Buses and Trucks are the future for global transportation. We can end energy monopoly from OPEC countries and spare huge burden for the environment. Elon Musk’s Tesla is changing it right now. We can see for the first time that people are prepared to pay extra while doing something right for the planet and entire society.