Electric vehicles have the potential to replace conventional cars that run on fossil fuels provided there is a way to decrease cost, heighten performance and assure a greater driving range. Current EVs run on lithium ion battery packs that deliver a pretty short driving range, leaving users to feel anxious that they may not reach their destinations on time before the batteries run out. But, we may just have reached a breakthrough if Envia Systems is to be believed. The technology company recently announced that it has successfully completed testing on a next generation rechargeable battery that has an energy density of an incredible 400 Watt hours per kilogram.
To better understand what this means for users, current battery technology has cells that yield a little over 200 Wh/kg of energy density. Envia’s efforts will go a long way in ensuring that users of EVs have a far better driving range as well as reducing the cost of such a battery pack by over 50 percent. For all EV users, the high cost of battery packs sets them back several thousands of dollars. Not to mention, despite the high cost of batteries, they promise limited driving range, deterring people from investing in battery powered vehicles.
Tests on Envia’s next gen lithium ion battery were undertaken by the NSWC with the sponsorship of ARPA-E. When mass produced, the ingenious invention will see the cost of a 300 mile range EV being drastically reduced. This, it is hoped, will encourage more people to switch to greener modes of transportation.
Two names stand out in the world of battery powered vehicles, the Tesla Roadster and the Nissan Leaf. Their driving range is over 200 miles and 109 miles respectively. If Envia’s battery can be sourced, we may see the prices of such cars dropping, offering eco conscious folks with a chance to further the green cause.
Via: Engadget
