1500 Mile Range - Aluminium-air Fuel Cell
 

Interesting article from the British press regarding a "well-pedigreed" inventor with a background in nuclear physics who claims to have perfected an aluminum-air fuel cell that provides for a 1500 mile range (assuming average passenger car, normal driving conditions). Conventional battery powered auto manufacturers (Tesla) are cited as being skeptical of the inventor's claims - go figure.

That said, anyone om the Pelican clan have knowledge of this effort and/or technology?

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7592485/Father-eight-invents-electric-car-battery-drivers-1-500-miles-without-charging-it.html

https://www.metalectrique.com/

Interesting. My understanding is that air-aluminum fuel cell tech has been around awhile. I thought it was originally investigated as a stationary power storage back in the 70's. One of the problems is the electrolyte "gels" during battery consumption and that reduces power output. I remember reading something about 5-6 years ago about pumped-electrolyte "batteries" based on air-aluminum fuel cells being tested. I also thought there was an Israeli company trying to commercialize the air-aluminum fuel cell already.

You are correct. The tech for this is not new. What is new apparently, is the inventor has
changed the electrolyte formula which enables longer use, etc.

and if I am reading correctly, a less pure aluminum, they can actually use recycled aluminum.

Fascinating read, thanks for sharing.

100 mpg carburetor

Quoting "mile range" and not quoting energy density is instant warning sign.

Yep, I hope it is real, but there is no magic battery. Only part of the energy one puts into charging can come back out to make you go down the road.
Some if not a lot of the electrical energy is simply converted to heat.

True, but the general populace won't understand energy density, I'd venture the authors are reaching for a way to bring some context that can be broadly understood.

The Daily Mail is a right wing tabloid newspaper. You cannot expect an in depth technical article in such a newspaper: the majority of readers wouldn't even try to read such a thing, let alone understand it.

amps

volts

watts.



you just lost 92% of the public.



My dumbing down Electric speak is this analogy.


"So your blow dryer is 1200 watts , right?

uh-huh.

and your wall outlet has 120 VAC right?


um I'm sure but yeah.


So 1200 watt, and 120 volts, guess the current or amps is .


OH I get it. 10 amps


and then you can go into "Why a overloaded 15 AMP breaker trips"

This one is a fuel cell.

Wouldn’t that cost $4/mile?

I think it would have to cost $.25 to sell it to the consumers.