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