Fluidic Energy promises better, cheaper metal-air batteries, wins DoE grant
By Donald Melanson 
posted Nov 5th 2009 6:05PM
posted Nov 5th 2009 6:05PM
It's not the only company working on metal-air batteries, but Scottsdale, Arizona-based Fluidic Energy may be in a better position to deliver on its promises than most, as it's just managed to snag a $5.13 million research grant from the US Department of Energy to further develop the "breakthrough" technology. While that word's thrown around quite a bit these, in the case, it may actually live up to the hype, considering that breakthrough in question would be a battery that's able to deliver eleven times the energy density of the best lithium-ion batteries for less than one-third of the cost. The key to that, it seems, is the battery's use of an ionic liquid as its electrolyte, which is described as a "wonder fluid" since it's able to last significantly longer than other fluids because drying out isn't a problem, and because it brings with it a significant boost in energy density. Of course, the company still apparently doesn't have an actual battery to back up its claims just yet, and it's not making any promises about when it might deliver one either.
Joshua Topolsky is the best Engadget Blogger/Editor- at leas he's my favorite. His articles ring of cleanliness.
*cough* Suckup *cough*
Well that's just really fuckin' neato.
Any more cool stories, bro?
Yo Asoccer, I'm happy for you, I'mma let you finish, but Ryan Block was one of the best Endadget Editors of all time, of ALL TIME!
Ok now this is something everyone can agree is a good thing; nay an awesome thing. There is absolutely no reason why any talk of iphones, droid, android, win7, osx, or any other product should come into play here. This is glory for ALL (en)GADGETRY!!
you just brought them all into play. GG
Awesome. Regardless of whether or not there's a working prototype yet, if the science is sound it WILL work someday, and grants like these will help to at least get the ball rolling, even if they don't directly fund the batteries of tomorrow.
Congrats guys!
So I'm guessing batteries with this tech will be coming out tomorrow then?
probably 5 or 10 years after tommorrow
In before Southland Tales references.
Are people seriously going to start quoting that movie? It was seriously one of the crappiest movies I've ever tried to watch(right up there with S. Darko and Repo). Had to stop watching after about 30-45 minutes 'cause I just couldn't take it anymore.
I loved that movie. So there. :p
i can't wait till this never comes out!
nice
Here's an energy tip, tell the DoE that you are busy with a new battery and they give you enough dough to but 8 times as much lithium-ion batteries!
Is this the one that is also talking it might bypass the recharge problem because the electrolyte itself might be able to be pumped out and refilled quickly with some all ready to go - there by replenishing the battery(s) with a simple pump-em-out/pump-em-in routine?
aka - the ol' flush-n-pump
That would be perfect for filling stations!!! No more gas being pumped into my car, but instead... charged electrolytes!!!! I hope it doesn't weight as much as a lithium battery though. It'd be nice to get this battery in a small device, lets say a cell phone, and not have it take up much space.
If it's light enough, it'll increase the torque and distance on electric vehicles. I see a strong future with this...and a better one if the USA develps this tech and gets a world patent. (If such thing exists; though China would follow the rules anyways)
correction...
China wouldn't follow the rules...
Yeah, it's called Brawndo, cause it's got electrolytes!
If there is science behind this, then why is there not a prototype already? How hard is it to make an ionic liquid electrolyte or charged electrolyte? I could use that money to research all sorts of things as well. :/
My thoughts exactly.
Bring on these super batteries like this that offer 3, 7 and 11 times the capacity as current ones. If they ever get released, maybe using a smartphone and an electric car might just be bearable.
Who knows what's in DoD satellites, doesn't help me any though :[
Is it just me, or does that picture make anyone else think of the "red matter" in the Star Trek movie?
So, If red matter creates black holes, what horrific destruction will blue matter wreck?
According to the article, a better battery life for your gadgets. Oh the horror!
You said "because" too much in that second to last (run-on) sentence. Split it into separate sentences!
harnessing the awesome power of the lava lamp
At only 1/3 the cost! but by the time it gets to the consumer it'll be 10x the cost of the lithium ion's...
Every once in a while you hear this GREAT new breakthrough in battery technology that increases its capacity by hundred times!! while shrinking its size down to hundred times!
I'll believe when I see one at the local grocery for sale.