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posted by CoolHand on Friday December 11 2015, @10:26AM   Printer-friendly
from the coming-soon-to-a-vehicle-near-you dept.

An electric car has been tested that managed a huge 1,100 mile range on a single charge. A massive jump from current electric cars.

http://www.pocket-lint.com/news/129419-electric-car-with-light-aluminium-air-battery-travels-1-100-miles-on-a-single-charge-take-note-tesla

-- submitted from IRC

An electric car has been tested that managed a huge 1,100 mile range on a single charge. A massive jump from current electric cars like the Tesla Model S which tops out at around 300 miles.

The secret to this super range is a type of battery technology called aluminium-air. This uses oxygen naturally occurring in the air to fill its cathode. This makes it far lighter than liquid filled lithium-ion batteries to give car a far greater range.

Phinergy, who created the battery, is an Israeli company who worked with aluminium specialist Alcoa Canada to create the batteries.

[...] Aluminium-air batteries drain turning the metal into aluminium hydroxide which can then be recycled to make new batteries. That will mean swapping out batteries every few months. But since it's so much lighter and cheaper than current efforts it should offer huge mileage and be affordable.

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  • (Score: 4, Insightful) by Gravis on Friday December 11 2015, @11:32AM

    by Gravis (4596) on Friday December 11 2015, @11:32AM (#274926)

    while electric cars are great and all, the US has a huge market that has yet to be tapped: electric tractor trailer trucks. since many are going long distances, having a lighter battery that goes further would be a huge advantage. maybe install 100 automated battery swap locations around the country and you've got the market for continental trucking. it would certainly be a better application of the huge amount of torque that electric cars have and could maybe do away with your typical 10 gear setup. this would result in lower maintenance for trucks which would be great. however, people can't stay awake forever so autonomous driving would be a good solution. now we just need to standardize the loading and unloading of goods and we can put a large amount of the population in the unemployment line!

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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday December 11 2015, @02:37PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Friday December 11 2015, @02:37PM (#274976)

    maybe install 100 automated battery swap locations around the country

    That would be 'good start'. But not nearly enough by a factor of at least 500x (even that may be too small). A typical long haul guy can crack off 600-800 in 1 shift. Swapping with another dude to finish the shift. Some trucks never stop rolling.

    people can't stay awake forever so autonomous driving would be a good solution

    A separate problem dont mash the two together.

    Instead of swapping the battery it may be simpler to just swap the whole cab. With pre charged cabs ready to go. Then let the 'dead head' cab sit and charge. This could be better if the cost can be reduced (which getting rid of things like those crazy transmissions would do). Most cabs start around 250k. Get that cost down and swapping makes more sense.

  • (Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Friday December 11 2015, @04:08PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Friday December 11 2015, @04:08PM (#275004)

    " now we just need to standardize the loading and unloading of goods and we can put a large amount of the population in the unemployment line!"

    Or on the ground in the Middle East.

    • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday December 11 2015, @08:08PM

      by Anonymous Coward on Friday December 11 2015, @08:08PM (#275126)

      Unsure which side you are saying they would be on.