[techweenie]

Aurel: the breakthroughs I'm talking about are the 'lab' breakthroughs in polymer-based, silicon-graphite and other technologies that sound so promising. We'll evaluate the products as they ship and decide which will work best for us.

Our issue is related to weight, in that our primary application is a conventional bicycle with on-demand electric propulsion. We use a 700 watt high RPM motor with reduction gearing.

Our design objective is a vehicle in the 40-45lb. range with a battery that gives double the current NiMH range of 20-25 miles without substantial increases in weight or mass.

As you may know, the first company to incorporate Li-ion in a bicycle had to recall them all because the batteries caught on fire -- somewhat offsetting the weight/mass advantages...