2010 Innovative Technology: Li-ion Batteries

After decades of research and prolonged use to activate our cell phones, laptops and various power tools, lithium-ion batteries (Li-Ion), began to be used in the technology of electric cars, becoming a major milestone on the road to replacing petroleum fuels in vehicles.

According to scientists and experts, lithium-ion batteries took first place in the establishment of the prize for the title "Innovative Technology of 2010".

In recent years, electric hybrid cars have begun to gradually displace gasoline models from the international market, they have gained their advantageous position due to the safety of technologies that involve minimal emission of harmful exhaust gases into the atmosphere.

The time has not yet been forgotten when models such as the Tesla Roadster and Mini E were dismissed as some kind of stupid thing not worthy of attention. Now, on new technologies in the development of electric car models such as the Chevrolet Volt, Fisker Karma and Nissan Leaf, they are equating and even almost praying like icons. Perhaps, in this promising series it is worth mentioning the hybrid version of Mercedes-Benz. All of these vehicles are equipped with lithium-ion batteries and are pioneers in the automotive revolution.

Currently, the government of many countries supports this movement, beneficial to all people on earth, offering excellent tax incentives for new developments and the production of electric vehicles for mass production. For example, the administration of US President Obama was among the leaders for supporting this innovative program, which more countries are joining every day.

Already today, most automotive companies use innovative electronics in their new hybrid models, as lithium ion batteries significantly more compact and lighter than NiMH analog batteries. It is only necessary to bring an additional cable to the users at home, and such batteries can be set to charge for the night directly in residential buildings and apartments.

But, as is the case with the application of each new technology, in the use of lithium-ion batteries there are also some overlays and shortcomings, which developers are trying to eliminate as soon as possible.

For example, we all remember how the first laptop computers were subject to spontaneous combustion due to a short circuit due to excessive heat and millions of people were forced to return goods to warehouses to eliminate defects.

Although lithium-ion batteries have passed many years of testing in various fields of application, scientists cannot give a clear answer on how durable such batteries are.

In the near future, batteries with new batteries will not get cheaper, you can only dream about it in five to six years, and this is in the best case, and whether the warranty period in new models of hybrid cars will be so long is unknown. For example, to replace the lithium-ion battery for the Chevy Volt, developed by General Motors, you need to pay about $ 10,000.

As is known from their school chemistry textbook, lithium is a highly reactive alkali metal; it is located in the third position of the periodic table. This incredibly light, silver-white metal has a solid state at room temperature. To use it in a battery, you need to free an external electron by atom fission.

Michael Whittingham, a professor at Binghampton University, first identified the potential of lithium-ion batteries in the 1970s. And only in 1991, John Gedenough made a breakthrough with these technologies, applying them, working in a development team at Sony.

Dozens of businesses around the world are opening now to launch mass production of lithium-ion batteries for use in the automotive industry. Countless laboratories are working to increase the effectiveness of this innovative technology and to reduce its cost for mass use.