Well we’re still seeing problems with Lithium-ion batteries overheating, even ones on as small a scale as in laptop computers. It remains an issue for us folks hoping to ride a 160 HP electric car filled with 600 pounds of these puppies at > 55 mph.
Apparently if one of these batteries made by Sanyo is dropped on its edge it could catch fire.
Read more here.
March 2nd, 2007 at 10:29 am
Laptop batteries are not even close to what is being developed for vehicle applications so the problems they are having are irrelevant to what we will see in the Volt.
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March 4th, 2007 at 9:58 am
Laptops require high energy density cells and often a Li-Co or Li-Mn matrix is selected. These have high cathode potentials and push the electrolyte and anode SEI layer towards breakdown. The cost of these cells are also pushed to high volume at moderate quality.
HEV’s and PHEV’s require high power density cells and new nano iron-phosphate and other stabile chemistries are being persued. Also cost and quality will be of key concern. Safety is #1.
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