Firefly claims 2nd gen lead-carbon foam batteries light and long lasting:

Link (http://www.allcarselectric.com/blog/1021145_firefly-working-on-2nd-generation-lead-acid-battery-lightweight-low-cost-lithium-ion-alternative)

I like the strategy of offering these batteries for base model hybrids, due to how cheap they would be relative to Li-Ion.

Given that these batteries would last 12 years, they may actually be lighter than Li-Ion, because the Volt uses so much excess capacity in Li-Ion just to extend life beyond 10 years. Using fewer, cheaper and smaller batteries sounds like a winner all the way around. Moreover, the US recycles 98% of products containing lead, whereas no equivalent set up for Lithium is in place.

Can we please have a working prototype and 3rd party verification? Thank you. Also, what is the expected price of these batteries? If this technology was good to go there would be no problem for them to get all the funding they needed. Just show it working, accept quotes, get the funding and build them. Something tells me they need funding to continue their research and development, not just to build a factory. Big difference. Show us the goods!

I'm with Texas on this one.

No kidding. It seems like so many companies with would-be-breakthrough products these days never produce the goods. "Hype Maintenance" is becoming standard operating procedure... and it's getting very tiresome.

"Hype Maintenance" is becoming standard operating procedure... and it's getting very tiresome.

Does anybody offer courses in this field? It sounds like a great new expanding business in these times. I think I would like to get in on this trend. If you can't believe 'em, join 'em! ;)

"Hype Maintenance..."

Dairy farmers and cattle ranchers probably have some understanding of the subject.

Does anybody offer courses in this field?Yes! It's offered by many universities under the guise of "Public Relations" and "Journalism."