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Old 02-16-2010, 06:29 PM   #1 (permalink)
cfg83
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Article: Future cars could be powered by their bodywork

Hello -

Technology in it's infancy, but maybe it will pan out someday :

With new battery tech, future cars could be powered by their bodywork - SmartPlanet - Feb 11, 2010


Quote:
Researchers from Imperial College London and European partners that include Volvo are developing a prototype material that’s strong and light enough to be used as a car’s skin but can store and discharge electrical energy.

The plan of the €3.4 million (approx. $4.65 million U.S.) project is to bolster the charging capacity of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles to make them lighter and more energy efficient, allowing drivers to travel longer distances before needing to recharge.

The composite material is made of carbon fibers and a polymer resin and can store and discharge large amounts of energy much more quickly than conventional batteries.

CarloSW2

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