Today's News by Jack Nerad for Driving Today

Are These the Batteries We’ve Been Waiting for?

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Many see battery technology as a stumbling block to a world that will rely on clean energy, but research on batteries has not stagnated.

Instead, a wide variety of companies -- from huge multinationals to back-garage startups -- are laboring to improve battery technology.

Now, one of those companies, K2 Energy Solutions, has announced two new battery systems that, it says, will dramatically alter the way companies design and power their commercial and consumer products.

There are two kinds of just-introduced batteries: 12-volt 6.4 amp-hour, and 12-volt 9.6 amp-hour. Both are expected to make it possible to power a variety of equipment, and they are lighter, longer-lasting and more powerful than any lead-acid battery currently on the market. These batteries were targeted at the medical, military and industrial fields but are also suitable for consumer applications, ranging from portable yard equipment like lawn trimmers to recreational equipment such as electric bikes and scooters. The technology is also likely to find its way into heavier-duty applications like electric cars.

“From the beginning, our intent was to create an entirely new source of energy that could be used for a variety of commercial uses, as well as everyday consumer products,” said David Anderson, business development manager for K2 Energy Solutions. “The finished products are completely backward compatible with the standard 12 volt, 7 amp-hour lead acid battery.”

Backward compatibility is a good feature. The batteries don’t even require a different charger. The onboard embedded microprocessor protects the battery as well as the end user from inadvertently damaging the battery. The batteries weigh 2 and 3 pounds, respectively, and contain no hazardous heavy metals or dangerous chemicals, making them eco-friendly. Company tests show the batteries charge faster and last three to five times longer than conventional batteries, and they hold their charge even after being in storage for long periods of time. The battery systems are based on a lithium iron phosphate cathode material whose inherent safety and low cost makes them well-suited for the large format systems required for energy storage and EV applications.

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