New batteries could lead to steep cost cuts for hybrids

[SVOboy]

Definitely a plus, and worth a read over at ABG.

Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) has developed a hybrid car battery that costs 70 percent less all while charging faster, providing 50 percent more power and recharging more times, increasing the life of battery by 300 percent. CSIRO's so called UltraBattery combines technologies of the capacitor and a regular lead-acid battery to make a better battery. Capacitors and batteries working together is not a new thing but the Ultrabattery gets the advantages without using control electronics.

Word.

[cfg83]

SVOboy -

Coolio. I was starting to think of "ultracaps" as short-term regenerative braking storage devices, as in (I think) the AFS Trinity car. However, the idea that there are fewer control electronics is very enticing because a simpler system implies a more robust system.

A battery that gets a 3X lifespan boost will increase the cost-effectiveness of the hybrids.

If you build a better hybrid, they will make a better battery,

CarloSW2