Group Demonstrates 3,000 Km Electric Car Battery

Jabrwock (985861) writes 'One of the biggest limitations on lithium battery-powered electric cars has been their range. Last year Israeli-based Phinergy introduced an "aluminum-air" battery. Today, partnering with Alcoa Canada, they announced a demo of the battery, which is charged up at Alcoa's aluminum smelter in Quebec. The plant uses hydro-electric power to charge up the battery, which would then need a tap-water refill every few months, and a swap (ideally at a local dealership) every 3,000km, since it cannot be recharged as simply as Lithium. The battery is meant to boost the range of standard electric cars, which would still use the Lithium batteries for short-range trips. The battery would add about 100 kg to an existing Tesla car's battery weight.'

Comments

Re:haha. they call if "charging the battery"

[Mr D from 63]

That may all be true, but it doesn't mean this technology is the right answer. If there are other approaches that cost less and are appropriately functional, then they will be adapted for the purpose. A simple gas generator or other batteries on a trailer, for instance. Without a proper comparison, we just don't know.

Cost and efficiency matter when evaluating solutions to given problems, even if it is marginal to the overall cost, and, yes, they are often a trade off with functionality.