A 130 miles 10 min charge electric SUV

[Aurel]

Some may say that federal funding of Universities is a waste of money, and that at best it does not lead to anything practical. I`d like to share with you a little project I have been involved in for some years now.

First, I wrote a paper at Rutgers University on a new type of batteries using nanosized lithium titanate anode. We had found that these batteries had exceptionally high power, and could be charged in about five minutes.

Then, we started collaborating with a private company, Altairnano, to develop those batteries. Here is one press release on that collaboration (I am Dr. Du Pasquier in the press release).

Now, Altair has received $2.5M from DOE , and they are working on a project where those batteries, now called nanosafe, are integrated in Electric SUVs. From that money, I get some research funds to help them improve the battery.

The company, Phoenix cars, already has a prototype that demonstrates 130 miles autonomy with 10 min charging time.

It seems to me like my little paper written in a state funded University might have created quite a few new jobs. This is what makes me proud of doing what I do for a living.

Aurel

[Jims5543]

I wish someone would come out with a city car that tops out at 70MPH and can go 150-200 miles on a charge and keep it affordable. I would be all over it.

I like the Toyota Yaris for this reason, some people do not understand the meaning of a city car and want that little Yaris to be a Interstate cruiser which it was not inteded to be.

A little car to run around town in that gets 40-50 MPG is a perfect city car.

Even better would be a electric car.

Kudos to you and congrats you should be proud.

[Aurel]

This one tops 95 mph and can go 130 miles on one charge. Considering that it is an SUV, I have no doubt a smaller car would meet your desires. Now for the price, all I can tell you is that all the battery components are cheap. The rest is a matter business scaling up, which I am not involved in.

Aurel

[hardflex]

Yes, a very nice project with a nice long term upside. Good Luck with your developments.

[wludavid]

Jim, have you heard of Tesla Volta? 100 Gs isn't too affordable, but it's a good sign that there's a company willing to enter the plug-in market. I'd love to see what economies of scale and reduction of design parameters (I don't need to go 0-60 in 4 seconds in the city) will do to the price over the next 5-10 years.

Aurel, you should sell this tech to GM for their upcoming plug-in hybird Vue.

[Aurel]

Originally posted by wludavid
Aurel, you should sell this tech to GM for their upcoming plug-in hybird Vue.

Altair has plans on licensing this technlogy to whoever will be interested. Unfortunately, I don`t own it. I won`t be the one making the big bucks with that .

Aurel

[island911]

SO, Aurel, has "big oil" bought up all the patents, only to bury them?

Seriously, how's the technology going?

[onewhippedpuppy]

If he doesn't reply, should we be worried?

[FrayAdjacent911]

Aurel, I've read a lot about Altair Nanotechnologies. Very good design energy storage. I'm sure they'll be part of what paves the way to getting off of petroleum as the primary source of energy for commuting.

I'm also following the development of the Chevrolet Volt. I kinda wish they'd contracted Altair, but I think A123 has a good handle on it.

Hopefully in a few short years, an electric powered commuter vehicle will be cost effective, and we can relegate our gas drinkers to long trips and weekend fun!

[Joeaksa]

Congrats and patent the next idea so you can retire off of it and live the life of Seinfield!

[p911dad]

You are right to be proud of your accomplishment! That is no doubt the result of a lifetime of study and innovation. Good for you!

[HardDrive]

I want a car that will go 300 miles while driving 75mph, and it should be charged in 5 minutes or less. In addition, it will need to go 0-60 in less than 5 seconds, and be so hot looking, that coeds pull down their shirts and show off their gear when they see the car. And it has to artic silver.


.....more specification to follow as I get deeper into this second bottle of merlot

[Aurel]

Originally Posted by Wayne at Pelican Parts

What's the current draw in that 10 minutes - can it be handled through regular household power (I'm guessing not)...

-Wayne

You are correct. Most houses have 100A, which is not enough for 10 min charging. Here is the answer to your question:

"The pickup truck boasts a driving range of 100 plus miles per charge. It can be refueled by traditional home electric power in about six hours, or in 10 minutes using an off-board high power 250 kilowatt charger."

Aurel

[Aurel]

I recently gave an interview for an article about electric cars in American Scientist:

http://www.americanscientist.org/template/AssetDetail/assetid/55860

Aurel

[FrayAdjacent911]

What do you think about Eestor's device? Have you heard about it?

[john70t]

The gov spent $100million investigating Clintons bj..
...$3million(later raised to $14M after protest) investigating 9/11(http://www.911pressfortruth.com)...
...and technowlogy which could permanently reduce America's economic Achillies-heel dependency on foreign oil gets a whopping two and a half million????

Someday we will say "where did it all go wrong?"

[FrayAdjacent911]

Wayne, I've heard a lot of people cry 'the sky is falling' when it comes to the grid. Yeah, we definitely DO need more power generation and transmission infrastructure. Damn environmentalists stand in the way of the most effective ones - cleaner coal plants and nuke power.

Anyway, you live in SoCal, and you guys have brownouts and blackouts relatively frequently.

Where I live, I can't remember the last blackout that wasn't due to inclement weather. Even then, they're still very rare and short lived.



MOST people who use EVs will plug in and recharge overnight, when the grid is mostly idle compared to daytime usage.

Possibly in the future, we'll have more efficient and cost effective solar cells and wind generators (that HOAs won't b1tch about!), coupled with some manner of storage (battery or capacitive) so we can power our own homes, and recharge our own vehicles without having to lean on the grid. SOMEDAY!

[island911]

Originally Posted by Wayne at Pelican Parts

....As it is, right now, the power grid can barely handle what we currently have...

-Wayne

I'm right there with you, on that line of thinking. However, I'm thinking that there may be a workaround for this problem. (and it sure isn't solar cells ) That is, the biggest 'grid' problem (peaks and valleys of demand) can be softened IF a cheap, efficient battery technology exists. --capacitance doesn't need to reside only in the car. Homes, or dedicated pwr stations, could certainly have banks of batteries.

[Aurel]

Island,

There is a battery technology that could be the answer, but it is an unproven technology yet. It is developed by a company called EESTOR. Interestingly, an electric vehicle company called ZENN has invested in them too. Look into it.

Aurel

[FrayAdjacent911]

Aurel, I asked if you had heard about Eestor. Do you think they have something, or do you think it's vaporware?