New Batteries May Cut High Hybrid Costs

According to an article on newscientist.com, "Hybrid-electric vehicles (HEVs) could become cheaper thanks to a breakthrough that would allow inexpensive lead-acid batteries to replace the nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batters they use now.  Similar battery systems could also be used to smooth out fluctuations in power output of wind turbines."

A team of developers are working on a lead-battery that comes with a supercapacitor that helps keep the lead-acid battery charged.  These batteries typically drain in power after being discharged and recharged over and over again - this is why the more expensive NiMH batteries are in cars such as the Toyota Prius, in part leading to the high price tag.

In lab tests, the new UltraBattery lasted four times longer than typical lead-acid batteries and even provided 50 percent more power, and is third to a quarter the price of typical NiMH batteries.  A test is currently underway in which the battery will "run until it fails," - so far over 185,000 km and still going.

-Michael Strachan