U.S. researchers say they have developed a technology that could dramatically reduce the time it takes to recharge lithium-ion batteries used in cellphones, laptop computers, and electric vehicles (EVs).

Unlike conventional lithium-ion rechargeable batteries — in which active material is placed on a thin film that has limited storage capacity and thus degrades quickly — researchers at the University of Illinois say they have created a 3-D nanostructure that enable batteries to charge at a much faster rate.

The tiny metal structure, which ultimately is coated with the thin film, is not immune to degradation, but the degradation is much slower because the new battery is 10 times more efficient than conventional batteries, according to the group’s study, which was published in the journal Nature Nantotechnology.

While it now can take several hours to charge an EV at a home charging station, researchers hope the technology will one day enable drivers to recharge a car battery in the time it takes to fill a tank of gasoline. Recharging a cellphone could eventually take less than a minute, the researchers predicted.

Article appearing courtesy Yale Environment 360.

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Solana, the U.S.’s first large-scale solar plant that can store the energy it generates on Tuesday was given a $1.45 billion loan guarantee by Secretary Chu.

The advantage of storage capacity is that Solana will be able to keep energy that would not be used during peak demand, thus increasing solar power’s dependability.

Solana will be built near Gila Bend in Arizona, a 250MW project deemed the world’s largest parabolic trough concentrating plant. It will produce enough energy for 70,000 households and will help to prevent the emission of 475,000 tons of carbon dioxide per year compared to a natural gas burning power plant.

Besides the environmental benefits, the plant will generate between 1,600 and 1,700 new construction jobs and then 60 permanent jobs in Arizona and neighboring states. A mirror manufacturing facility will be built outside Phoenix in order to provide the 900,000 mirrors needed for the project, further boosting the local job market.

Article by Antonio Pasolini, a Brazilian writer and video art curator based in London, UK. He holds a BA in journalism and an MA in film and television.

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Just as your mileage varies by where and how you drive, so might the performance of the Chevrolet Volt plug-in hybrid’s batteries.

The batteries in the GM vehicle due out in a year (November 2010) will have at least 10 years of life, according to company representatives who briefed the media on Tuesday. But vehicle owners who live in temperate climates are likely to see their batteries last much longer.

According to Andrew Farah, Volt chief engineer, after many months of tweaking battery cells (provided by supplier LG Chem) to optimize performance and lifespan, the lithium ion manganese spinel chemistry has been finalized. While customers will be guaranteed 10 years of satisfactory battery performance, Volt owners in Arizona or Michigan may get considerably less out of their batteries in the long run than someone who lives in more temperate areas, such as the Pacific Northwest or Bay Area.

“10 years is the target life, but depending on where you live, you could see significantly more than that,” said Farrah. “In more benign conditions — if you do more city driving — and if you are in a more temperate area, the battery would last significantly longer.”

When exposed to extremely high temperatures for extended periods, some lithium ion batteries (such as the chemistry GM chose) will lose storage capacity. So parking an electric vehicle in desert heat for hours at a time would slowly reduce the amount of energy that can be stored, which eventually translates to fewer miles driving in between charges. “Local weather is important,” said Farrah.

GM will be very careful in rolling out these first of their kind production vehicles so that they can monitor vehicle performance and expectations. Battery suppliers whose products give any indication of underperforming may find themselves losing customers. The automotive OEMs are likely to multisource their battery contracts so that they could switch suppliers as needed.

GM has also signed off on the charging equipment that will come with the vehicle. The charge unit is recommended for ground fault protection (GFP) to prevent vehicle owners from getting shocked in places where moisture may be present.

A strong negative reaction by consumers to any model could jeopardize demand across the board for plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles. Automakers will proceed with caution, and may delay product launches if any uncertainty about reliability or safety presents itself in final testing.

The company has assembled 300 battery packs so far and has tested them without any cell failures, according to the company. GM will start taking delivery of the production cells in the beginning of 2010 and is expected to ship its first Volts by the end of the year.

Article appearing courtesy of Matter Network

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