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And let's not downplay the energy density we're talking about here; it's similar to that of the silicon nanowire anode being developed by Yi Cui. A graphite anode typically holds 300-400Wh/kg (overall battery density is ~160Wh/kg once you add in a LiCoO2 cathode). These tin nanoparticle anodes hold 831Ah/kg, and are higher voltage than usual, so you're looking at several thousand Wh/kg. I.e., an order of magnitude higher energy density in the anode. The only downside is that it currently loses 30% capacity in 100 cycles. Even if that can't be overcome, it's still a huge breakthrough. Correction: *another* huge breakthrough.

Unfortunately, we have somewhat of a surplus on breakthroughs with anodes, and could use some more cathode breakthroughs. Come on, researchers, help us out here! :) The best I've seen so far is Argonne's hybrid Li2MnO3/LiMO2 or LiM2O4 cathode, where M is manganese or nickel. They can get over 500Wh/kg in the cathode with Li2O-stabilized alpha-MnO2. There's also Hybrid Techologies announced cathode improvement which has even higher reported energy density, but I don't put as much faith in them as I do in Argonne.

Anyways, combining either the silicon nanowire or tin nanoparticle anodes with that cathode, that'd be over 400Wh/kg for the battery as a whole -- a 3x improvement over laptop batteries and 4x improvement over lithium phosphate batteries. So, a Tesla would go >700 miles and an Aptera would go >450 miles.

As far as I can tell, at least.

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Sorry. Cobalt isn't going to be used in EV applications. That's the volatile stuff.

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Sorry, ug, but LiIon batteries using Cobalt Oxide are already being used in the Tesla Roadster, due to their high energy density, high power density, and reasonable cost.

The problem with cobalt oxide is that if it gets too hot, it breaks down and releases the oxygen, and that oxygen reacts with the hydrocarbon electrolyte and lithium, resulting in fires.

Tesla Motors developed active and passive methods to keep those batteries safe and cool, and even with the extra safety devices their Energy Storage System still gets a respectable 130 wh per Kg.

Once these newer developments are fully researched an put into mass production, which may take a few years, Tesla Motors and other EV makers will put them to good use.

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::The problem with cobalt oxide is that if it gets too hot, it breaks down and releases the oxygen

Not to mention, Cobalt is the reason why commonly used lithium-ion batteries cant come down in price: its expensive.

Lithium phosphate doesnt contain anything that expensive.

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Well I really appreciate the extra effort you go to, Domenick, for AutoBlogGreen.com.

One could pick a winner from these names and info you provide and make $2500 on a stock grow to a nice profit.

Too soon yet of course, but these informative posts help us get a background.

There are the two choices GM seems to be making for the volt, yet that is not solid yet either.

I imagine once a winner is selected, they will just buy them out using their own Cobasys battery outfit. OK if one owns that stock early enough.

Wiser investors could likely correct my thinking, however that seems to be how it looks from here. = TG

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Hmm... lithium batteries definitely have power... But with global supplies physically limited I'm thinking we'd be unwise to cite this as the only option.
(Maybe I misunderstood the article, because I don't know the specific batteries you were talking about.) The foam lead matrix should also be cited because it has far better performance than a standard lead plate battery (and very little government R&D dollars unlike lithium.)

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Pretty cool . keep working at it

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