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Porsche 918 Spyder prototype returns to the road with polished black and white shell

Zach Honig — Wed, 16 May 2012 17:02:00 EST

It may not be the first time Porsche's 918 plug-in hybrid has had a chance to flex its 770 horse power for the camera, but when we last saw the ~~pricey~~ insanely expensive speed demon strut its stuff on record, it certainly didn't look like this. The freakish prototype has emerged as a beautiful, high-performance vision of efficiency, blasting its way past 100 kilometers of terrain for every three liters of petrol (78 miles/gallon). The $845,000 machine pairs a combustion engine with electric motors to achieve that consumption rating, and sports a carbon-fiber reinforced-plastic monocoque (self-supporting) shell, rear-axle steering and that unique upward-venting exhausted system that you may have noticed in the shot above. The 918 Spyder is slated for its initial production run beginning in September of 2013, with the first models making their way to US customers late next year. It's time to start saving -- just a few thousand blog posts to go.

Gallery: Porsche 918 Spyder

Continue reading Porsche 918 Spyder prototype returns to the road with polished black and white shell

Porsche 918 Spyder prototype returns to the road with polished black and white shell originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 May 2012 17:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Fisker Karma recall is official, 239 cars will need their battery packs swapped

Richard Lawler — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 07:11:00 EST

The folks at Fisker are probably more excited to see the calendar roll over than anyone, as a tumultuous 2011 comes to an end with another setback for the Karma. A battery issue previously thought to affect around 50 cars will actually result in the recall of 239. GigaOM points out an NHTSA notice confirming a problem with the positioning of hose clamps on the high-voltage Li-Ion batteries. It could result in said hoses leaking coolant into the battery creating the risk of an electrical short-circuit (still not seeing how this is a bad thing) and fire (oh), which the company will resolve by replacing the batteries. The recall probably covers everyone out there rolling like Walden Schmidt, since the CEO announced December 21st that 225 cars had been shipped and its factory was producing 25 cars per day. Still, assuming the ~$96k price tag isn't an issue, would you really let a little thing like potentially bursting into flames keep you away from such a sleek, smooth handling luxury sedan that puts 657hp of hybrid power at your disposal? Neither would we.

Continue reading Fisker Karma recall is official, 239 cars will need their battery packs swapped

Fisker Karma recall is official, 239 cars will need their battery packs swapped originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 01 Jan 2012 07:11:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Researchers use graphene and tin sandwich to make better battery electrodes

Michael Gorman — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 13:20:00 EST

Graphene, that microscopic chicken wire made of carbon atoms, has a great many theoretical uses. Among these is to improve Lithium-ion battery technologies, and the big brains at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory have created a graphene and tin composite material for use in battery electrodes. When it's baked at 572 degrees Fahrenheit (300 degrees Celsius) the tin turns into nanopillars that widen the gap between the graphene layers. The greater volume of tin provided by these tiny towers improves electrode performance (read: faster charging), and the flexibility of the graphene prevents electrode degradation. Naturally, current prototypes can only maintain capacity over 30 charge cycles -- as opposed to the hundreds required for commercial applications -- so some serious improvement has to happen before we see it strut its stuff in any phones or EVs. This leaves us, once again, extolling the virtues of graphene, but lamenting its exclusively academic application.

Continue reading Researchers use graphene and tin sandwich to make better battery electrodes

Researchers use graphene and tin sandwich to make better battery electrodes originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 03 Aug 2011 13:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Stanford researchers create transparent battery, dream of a see-through iPhone (video)

Terrence O'Brien — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 12:34:00 EST

We've had about all of the transparent displays we can handle. Besides, what good is a screen you can see through if the electronics behind it are as opaque as ever? Thankfully, the fine folks at Stanford are working hard to move us towards a future filled with invisible gadgets. Yi Cui and Yuan Yang led a team that have created a lithium-ion battery that appears transparent. In actuality, the cells are composed of a very fine mesh of electrodes, approximately 35-microns wide, that are small enough to appear invisible to the naked eye. The resulting power packs are cheap and flexible but, currently, can only store about half as much energy as a traditional Li-ion battery. Cui has a particular destination in mind for creation, as he told the college paper, "I want to talk to Steve Jobs about this. I want a transparent iPhone!" Check out the video after the break.

Continue reading Stanford researchers create transparent battery, dream of a see-through iPhone (video)

Stanford researchers create transparent battery, dream of a see-through iPhone (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 26 Jul 2011 12:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Orphiro's electric motorcycle: like a Harley, just not obnoxiously loud

Darren Murph — Sun, 17 Jul 2011 16:03:00 EST

It's certainly not the first electric motorcycle to (quietly) crisscross our desks, but the self-titled Orphiro is surely one of the classiest. Designed over in Holland as a wide-body alternative to petrol-guzzling hawgs, this eco-friendly two-wheeler relies on Li-ion batteries and a motor that pushes a grand total of 72 volts. The top speed of 75 miles-per-hour probably wouldn't rile up the crowd in Sturgis, but cruising for 60 solid miles without using a drop of gas just might. If all goes well, we should see the first commercial version hit the pavement this September, but ominously, there's no mention of price. Something tells us it'll fall squarely in the "if you have to ask..." category.

Orphiro's electric motorcycle: like a Harley, just not obnoxiously loud originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 17 Jul 2011 16:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SEI creates new porous Aluminum-Celmet, makes rechargeable batteries last longer

Joseph Volpe — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 17:08:00 EST

Quick: What costs hundreds of dollars and dies after four hours? If your answer included anything portable and tech-based -- you guessed right. In fact, most of our magical and exciting gadgetry has less-than-stellar means of holding a charge, but a recent breakthrough by Sumitomo Electric Industries could change all that. Employing the same process used to create Celmet (a NiMH component), researchers at the R&D company managed to coax aluminum into being a bit more receptive. The resulting Aluminum-Celmet has a whopping 98 percent porosity rate, leaving the Li-ion gate wide-open for a flood of electrical juice. And unlike its nickel-based brother, this piece de porous non-resistance has a steep corrosive threshold that could soon help power a line of high-capacity, small form rechargeable batteries. Production is already underway at Osaka Works, with SEI hoping to speed adoption of these franken-batts into our mass consuming mitts. Technical-jargony PR release after the break.

Continue reading SEI creates new porous Aluminum-Celmet, makes rechargeable batteries last longer

SEI creates new porous Aluminum-Celmet, makes rechargeable batteries last longer originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 28 Jun 2011 17:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Porsche opens 918 Spyder plug-in supercar pre-orders, $845,000 gets you a ticket to ride

Tim Stevens — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 06:34:00 EST

It isn't quite as hot as the 918 RSR, but it is at least street legal. Or, will be, anyway. It's the 918 Spyder, one of the hottest hybrids we've ever seen, and Porsche has now opened the doors for those who want to order them. $845,000 gets you a car with a mid-mounted V8 putting down "at least" 500HP. That's paired with two electric motors, one front and one rear, which provide an additional 218 horsepower and AWD handling to boot. Unlike the RSR these motors will be powered by a Li-ion battery pack that will offer 16 miles of purely electric range when charged for about seven hours on a standard 110 outlet. More impressively, this carbon-fiber convertible will get to 60MPH in 3.1 seconds (matching the 911 Turbo S we played with last month) yet deliver 78MPG. That's not quite up to the levels Volvo's promising for its V60 plug-in diesel, but we're thinking this bad boy might be a little more fun to drive. What won't be fun is the wait: the 918 isn't expected to start shipping until the end of 2013. That gives you plenty of time to build your dream garage -- and practice your pronunciation of "Doppelkupplung."

Gallery: Porsche 918 Sypder

Continue reading Porsche opens 918 Spyder plug-in supercar pre-orders, $845,000 gets you a ticket to ride

Porsche opens 918 Spyder plug-in supercar pre-orders, $845,000 gets you a ticket to ride originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 21 Mar 2011 06:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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American Prius V to get old-school batteries, Japanese version to get fancy Li-ion ones

Tim Stevens — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 06:06:00 EST

We'd rather see a more interesting Prius before we see a bigger one, but it's the bigger one that comes first. The taller Prius V that was unveiled in Detroit is said to begin hitting Japanese showrooms next month, priced at ¥3 million (about $37,000) and packing an all-new Li-ion battery in the floor. This is different than the nickel metal hydride pack found in the current Prius, a smaller and lighter design that leaves room for a third row of seats. When the car hits the US, though, we'll get a bigger set of cells like the one in the current Prius, meaning the American version won't have those seats in the back. Irritating? A little, but the version we'll be getting will also be available in Japan, where it will sell for almost $10,000 less than the Li-ion version. For ten grand in savings we'd probably skip the rear seats too.

American Prius V to get old-school batteries, Japanese version to get fancy Li-ion ones originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 13 Mar 2011 06:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple patent application points to denser batteries, improved charging technique

Sean Hollister — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 15:31:00 EST

Some might think a ten-hour Macbook battery mighty fine, but we're happy to say that Cupertino's not quite satisfied. AppleInsider spotted a pair of Apple patent applications detailing a improved way of juicing up those lithium-polymer cells, which should greatly increase the number of recharge cycles they can endure -- or, optionally, allow Apple to use denser batteries that last longer on a charge. We'll break it down for you: the graph in the upper-left shows how Li-ion batteries currently charge, first very rapidly (constant current, increasing voltage) and then more slowly (constant voltage, decreasing current) to top the cells off.

What Apple's proposing is the multi-step method depicted on the right, where current and voltage trade off, to charge the battery while being far less harsh on the physical chemistry of the electrodes inside. As you can see in the bottom graph, the multi-step CC-CV cells lose much less of their potential after 300 recharge cycles, but that's not all Apple's cooking up -- the company figures that it can increase the thickness of the electrodes to improve battery life (by as much as 28Wh/L, according to one chart) without negative effect thanks to the softer charge. Sure, we'd rather have plant-eating graphene supercapcitors, but this sounds like a plan for now.

Apple patent application points to denser batteries, improved charging technique originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 20 Feb 2011 15:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Li-Ion Motors Inizio electric supercar stops by Detroit

Tim Stevens — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 15:16:00 EST

We already showed you a quick tour of two of the three Automotive X-Prize winners. Wondering where the third was? Hanging out in the booth of its creator, Li-Ion motors, looking green and decidedly outclassed by the second car that company is showing off. It's the Inizio, a proper supercar of the electric variety, the base model hitting 60 from a standstill in four seconds and topping out at 130 -- perhaps not Ferrari-busting but surely more than enough to get your license taken away. If that's not enough there will be multiple models with different power levels and carbon fiber construction, with the higher-end dropping that 0 - 60 time to 3.4 seconds and boosting the top speed to 200.

We spent some time chatting with Li-Ion Motors Project Manager Paul Daigrepont about the design of the car, most interesting being the transmission. It's a custom-made four-speed unit that, interestingly, has no clutch. It's directly driven by the motor, shifting via paddles with the ECU dropping the torque on the motor momentarily to unload the gears, allowing an upshift to happen. At a stop the motor simply stops spinning and, if you want reverse, the car engages first gear and runs backwards! The company is accepting orders, starting at $139,000, a price that makes the Leaf feel like even more of a bargain.

Gallery: Li-Ion Motors Inzio electric supercar

Li-Ion Motors Inizio electric supercar stops by Detroit originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 12 Jan 2011 15:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Silicon nanoscoops to combine Li-ion's energy with supercapacitor power, make your electric car go vroom

Paul Miller — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 06:30:00 EST

Look, we don't know much about "science." We know it's a controversial subject, and we always try to steer clear of that sort of hot-button-issue stuff. Still, "science" can do some good in the world, you know, now and then. Some "scientists" at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute have happened upon a "strain-graded carbon-aluminum-silicon nan oscoop anode" (whatever that means) that basically combines the advantages of long-lasting Lithium-ion with a supercapacitor's rapid fire oomph -- a common theme, but undoubtedly a noble one. Specifically, Li-ion's superb (and ever-improving) Wh/kg and supercapacitor's great W/kg. Now, don't ask us how -- again, "science" -- but the upshot should be faster charging and better performing electric cars, that can still manage a good amount of mileage. Hopefully we get more spectacular exploding laptops as a side bonus.

Silicon nanoscoops to combine Li-ion's energy with supercapacitor power, make your electric car go vroom originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 04 Jan 2011 06:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tesla assures $57k Model S will be profitable, sexy looking too

Tim Stevens — Sun, 02 Jan 2011 10:10:00 EST

The path to availability for cars of the future is one wrought with roadblocks, potholes, and indeed IEDs -- increasingly expensive developments. This was most recently seen with Fisker's Karma getting a price boost up to $95,900, a hefty jump over initial $80,000 estimates, but Tesla is taking this chance to give new reassurances that its Model S sedan's price of $57,000 is comfortable. That's largely thanks to smaller Li-Ion batteries, which are similar to those used in laptops and, according to Musk, will be swappable as a single unit. This type of batteries are much less expensive to produce than the large, monolithic packs used in the Nissan Leaf or Chevy Volt, about $200 per kWH vs. $750 for Nissan's. That's cheap enough for Tesla to assure that it can still make a profit on the Model S, despite its cost being set at roughly half that of the Roadster. Will that still be the case when it hits production in 2012? We can't wait to find out.

Update: Defendor commented with a link to this CNET article in which Elon Musk indicates the battery pack will be swappable too. The post was updated to mention this.

Tesla assures $57k Model S will be profitable, sexy looking too originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 02 Jan 2011 10:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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First Think City electric vehicles delivered to Indiana government, Leslie Knope calls dibs on all of 'em

Darren Murph — Thu, 16 Dec 2010 12:05:00 EST

Headed to Pawnee, Indiana anytime soon? Don't lie, it's a place that survives in only two places: your mind, and NBC's studios. The only "Pawnee" in proximity of the Hoosier State lies in Illinois, but it's cool, we can still pretend. After hearing that Think was planning to hawk its City electric vehicle in the Big Apple this year, it looks as if Indiana's government will actually be first to acquire it. Fitting, though, given how Think's primarily manufacturing facility is parked in Elkhart, IN. The first 15 City EVs -- described by the company as "all-electric, zero-emission cars designed in Scandinavia for fleet applications and urban commuters" -- have hit the ground running, delivered to the Department of Administration to be used principally by the Department of Natural Resources in the state's park system. Naturally, Ron Swanson was at the ribbon-cutting ceremony with a mind to swipe one for his own personal use, but once he learned of Think's plans to finally roll out retail distribution in select US cities in the second half of 2011, his conscience got the better of him. Phew.

Continue reading First Think City electric vehicles delivered to Indiana government, Leslie Knope calls dibs on all of 'em

First Think City electric vehicles delivered to Indiana government, Leslie Knope calls dibs on all of 'em originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 16 Dec 2010 12:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Graphene electrodes promise 5x energy storage boost for ultracapacitors

Darren Murph — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 23:10:00 EST

Graphene. We hear of your achievements so often, but feel your benefits in our everyday lives so infrequently. We'd be remiss if we didn't point out how unhealthy of a relationship this is, but hopefully Bor Jang and co. have a mind to mend it all. Bor, along with a number of colleagues at Nanotek Instruments, have just uncovered a graphene advancement that could put conventional Li-ion cells in a world of hurt. Of course, we've been hearing about so-called "battery breakthroughs" for the better part of our lives, but few have involved progress with ultracapacitors. For those unaware, ultracapacitors are energy storage devices that can "absorb and release charge in minutes," and they're pegged as cheaper / safer alternatives to batteries for electric vehicles. The only problem? Mainstream versions today hold just five percent of the energy held by Li-ion batteries. Nanotek's crew has figured out that the use of graphene electrodes "could lead to ultracapacitors with more than five times the energy density of commercial devices," but as these things always go, no one's coming close to producing a hard release date. We'll just assume it's undergoing lab tests for now, and in 2022 we can all weep at what could've been. Prove us wrong, whiz kids.

Graphene electrodes promise 5x energy storage boost for ultracapacitors originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Dec 2010 23:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Duracell myGrid USB Charger gives your Kindle 100 extra hours of life for $35

Darren Murph — Tue, 09 Nov 2010 09:00:00 EST

While Energizer's moving forward with its newfound Qi partnership, its bunny-less arch rival seems content right where it's at. Duracell's WildCharge-based myGrid charging mat, which was actually introduced over a year ago, is finally gaining a second good reason to purchase one: the myGrid USB Charger. The nugget you see above is a rechargeable Li-ion battery with a USB output, and according to Duracell, there's enough juice in there to extend the life of most smartphones by four hours and the life of most e-readers (Kindle included) by up to 100 hours. It's available today at CVS, Walmart, Target and Amazon for $34.99, and that does indeed include both mini-USB and micro-USB adapters. The full release awaits your eyes after the break.

Continue reading Duracell myGrid USB Charger gives your Kindle 100 extra hours of life for $35

Duracell myGrid USB Charger gives your Kindle 100 extra hours of life for $35 originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 09 Nov 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Panasonic sinks $30 million into Tesla, begs for an earlier Model S build

Darren Murph — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 03:06:00 EST

Okay, so executives at Panasonic probably aren't in any big hurry to get ahead in the long, long wait for a Model S, but a $30 million gift could probably get 'em just that. Panny has this week sunk quite a few bills into Tesla by way of a common stock purchase, and while the two have expressed fondness for each other before, this kind of investment doesn't happen without a serious tie-up being in the works. Of course, Panasonic just so happens to be the planet's leading battery cell manufacturer, and as of now, it's being called Tesla's "preferred lithium-ion battery cell supplier for its battery packs." So yeah, you know where to look first when things start overheating, melting or spontaneously erupting in flames.

Continue reading Panasonic sinks $30 million into Tesla, begs for an earlier Model S build

Panasonic sinks $30 million into Tesla, begs for an earlier Model S build originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Nov 2010 03:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Li-ion Motors INIZIO: all-electric supercar hitting 170 mph next year, all yours for $139k

Darren Murph — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 20:12:00 EST

Tesla, schmesla. This, friends, is the electric vehicle that your garage has been waiting for. Designed by North Carolina's own Li-ion Motors, the downright stunning INIZIO is being hailed as the world's first all American-made electric supercar, and while the Roadster is definitely peppy, it ain't got nothing on this. Using the company's own lithium-ion battery technology and management system, the car can purportedly cruise for up to 250 miles on electricity alone, and it can hit a top speed of 170 miles per hour without breaking a sweat. Naturally, you won't (legally) fit more than two humans into this thing at once, but those two individuals will enjoy adjustable, leather / suede Recaro seating with heating and cooling features, an inbuilt 12-inch subwoofer, digital surround sound system, integrated navigation system, DVD player and rotational doors that raise on a 90-degree angle. Oh, and they'll probably drool a little after racing from zero to sixty in 3.4 face-numbing seconds. The company also adds that it emits no carbon emissions, can be recharged over 2,500 times and can go from drained to rejuvenated after just eight hours on the plug. It's expected to launch in mid-2011 with a starting price of $139,000, or just a few pennies more than the current value of the wretched Carolina Panthers franchise.

Update: Just a heads-up before you throw down for a pre-order... you may not actually ever get your vehicle. Just another one to the list, really.

Continue reading Li-ion Motors INIZIO: all-electric supercar hitting 170 mph next year, all yours for $139k

Li-ion Motors INIZIO: all-electric supercar hitting 170 mph next year, all yours for $139k originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Nov 2010 20:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tesla planting electric engines into two Toyota prototype bodies

Darren Murph — Sat, 10 Jul 2010 22:33:00 EST

Word on the street had it that Tesla's $50 million deal with Toyota wasn't formal back in late May, but evidently things have made positive progress since. According to a new (though admittedly brief) report over at CNN, Toyota is currently working with the electric automaker on a pair of prototype vehicles. As the story goes, Tesla will be delivering two prototypes to Toyota "by the end of the month," with the vehicles using "Tesla's electric motors and battery packs and the bodies of Toyota vehicles." Tesla Chief Technology Officer JB Straubel has been quoted as saying that the two outfits have "made a lot of progress in a short amount of time," and we couldn't be more excited to see what kind of results will come from this tie-up. We can't help but hope that those regenerative brakes do a bit more than regenerate, though. Sorry, we had to. Really.

Tesla planting electric engines into two Toyota prototype bodies originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 10 Jul 2010 22:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hitachi claims secret chemical formula will improve battery cathodes, double longevity

Sean Hollister — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 02:49:00 EST

Before lithium-ion batteries, portable gadgets were a nightmare, forcing road warriors and Discman-toting teens to either swap disposable cells or deal with rechargables that (with few exceptions) were tricky to recharge. Of course, Li-ion batteries also have a downside: as laptop and cell phone users have no doubt found out, they too become disposable before long. One reason why is that acid in the electrolyte can corrode the cathode material -- and now, Hitachi claims it's found a way to strengthen its own. Using an undisclosed combination of elements to replace some of the manganese used in the company's cathodes, Hitachi claims they can strengthen their crystalline configuration to resist acid, reduce cost, and best of all, double the usable life of a lithium-ion cell to about ten years. We've heard similar claims before, of course, with other battery manufacturers promising us twenty years, but it looks like this technology might make it out of the lab. NEDO, a Japanese government organization, has commissioned Hitachi to bring these batteries to life for industrial applications like wind farms. Cell phones, sadly, will have to wait.

Hitachi claims secret chemical formula will improve battery cathodes, double longevity originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 07 Apr 2010 02:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EcoloCap claims nanotube-infused Lithium-X battery has 99 percent efficiency, fuels our long-range EV dreams

Sean Hollister — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 10:26:00 EST

The more we hear about the next generation of rechargeable batteries, the more nanotechnology seems integral to the case, as scientists work to improve the capacity of electrodes in the popular Lithium-ion chemical battery structure. Silicon nanowires are an exciting future possibility, and one current solution uses nano-structures made of iron phosphate. But the firm we're highlighting today, EcoloCap, has decided to revisit our versatile friend: the carbon nanotube. The company has just spread the word that its Nano Lithium X battery can generate a minimum of 200 amp-hours with a single cell (a Tesla requires 6,831 cells) at half the cost of a traditional Li-ion and with greater than 99 percent efficiency. Truth be told, we don't know if the tech actually exists, and we'd never even heard of the company before today -- but if this solution does materialize with the voltage to match its longevity, it'll bring a badly needed eco-boost of competition to a market with far too few players.

EcoloCap claims nanotube-infused Lithium-X battery has 99 percent efficiency, fuels our long-range EV dreams originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 22 Mar 2010 10:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Scientists discover method for rapid charging Li-ion batteries

Darren Murph — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 03:19:00 EST

Huzzah! Yet another discovery for us to add to our ever-expanding list of "awesome things that'll never actually happen!" Ibrahim Abou Hamad and colleagues from Mississippi State University have reportedly devised a method of charging batteries that could hasten the process rather significantly, and better still, it could provide "an increase in battery power densities" as well. The only problem? Lithium-ion batteries have been disappointing tech users for years, and so long as Energizer and Duracell are calling the shots, we kind of doubt a lot will be done to improve the longevity of 'em. Skepticism aside, the new method involves some fancy black magic surrounding molecular dynamics simulations, and researchers have found a way to boost charging time by "simulating the intercalation of lithium ions into the battery's graphite anode." We know we just went way over your heads on a Friday afternoon, but if techobabble's your thing, all you can handle is right there in the Source link.

Scientists discover method for rapid charging Li-ion batteries originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 13 Mar 2010 03:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Panasonic's silicon-packin' batteries boast 30 percent capacity boost, hit stores in 2012

Joseph L. Flatley — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 12:59:00 EST

Sure, not a day goes by without some sort revolutionary (if not just plain silly) announcement regarding fuel cells, and once again it looks like it's Panasonic's turn. According to Nikkei, the company will begin volume production of Li-ion rechargeable batteries that use a silicon alloy anode sometime in fiscal 2012. While Si alloy batteries have a tenfold theoretical improvement over current cells that utilize graphite, Panny claims that its device will have an improvement in linear capacity of close to thirty percent -- keeping at least 80 percent of its capacity even after 500 charge/recharge cycles. Currently the bad boy is being marketed towards notebook batteries, although we could be seeing 'em in our electric cars in the near future. Catch a couple pictures from the press conference after the break.

Continue reading Panasonic's silicon-packin' batteries boast 30 percent capacity boost, hit stores in 2012

Panasonic's silicon-packin' batteries boast 30 percent capacity boost, hit stores in 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 01 Mar 2010 12:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Protonex fuel-cell batteries to power HULC exoskeleton for three solid days

Darren Murph — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 09:29:00 EST

We're selfishly daydreaming of how we could use something like this at the next CES, but chances are that Lockheed Martin is really only fixated on boosting its bottom line by assisting the US military. The company's HULC exoskeleton, which was originally introduced by Berkeley Bionics in 2008, is seeing a significant upgrade this week courtesy of a fuel-cell power pack from Protonex. The goal? To strap a new, more potent battery onto the Human Universal Load Carrier that will support 72+ hour extended missions. Soldiers tend to carry around a lot more gadgetry now, all of which requires more and more power; with this pack, the men and women in the field could carry fewer conventional batteries while seeing an overall boost in available juice. There's no mention of when exactly this stuff will be rolled out en masse, but that's a detail you'll probably never know, anyway.

Protonex fuel-cell batteries to power HULC exoskeleton for three solid days originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 22 Jan 2010 09:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tesla taps Panasonic to create next-generation EV battery packs

Darren Murph — Sun, 10 Jan 2010 06:37:00 EST

As Tesla continues on its commendable journey to surpass Ford, GM, Toyota and everyone else in total sales, it's evidently hoping a tie-up with Panasonic will help it accomplish said goal. The two outfits have just agreed to work together in order to develop next-generation battery packs to be used within electric vehicles, which are based around "Nickel-based Lithium ion chemistry." It sounds as if the two are hoping the collaborative effort will actually be mutually beneficial, though both have been coy about when or where this research will lead to implementable results. Hopefully we'll end up with a Model S that can roll 724 miles on a single charge, but it's not like we'd complain (much) if we only got 722.

Tesla taps Panasonic to create next-generation EV battery packs originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 10 Jan 2010 06:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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DesignLine turbine hybrid buses take off in NYC, could multiply soon

Darren Murph — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 05:42:00 EST

Capstone's CMT-380 has proven that turbines, batteries and an unconditional love for Ma Earth actually can get along within the confines of an automobile, and now it looks as if the same type of technology will be touching a lot more lives in and around New York City. DesignLine, a New Zealand-based company with an "experimental turbine hybrid" of the same name, is currently being used in three buses in Brooklyn and Manhattan, and unlike petrol-powered alternatives, these are said to be as "quiet as a tomb." They're also environmentally friendly, omitting internal combustion altogether and relying on spinning turbines to recharge a Li-ion battery that powers the wheels. If the trial goes over well, 87 more of the $559,000 buses could be ushered into operation, and you'll know one's coming due to the shocking absence of creaking, sputtering and black haze rounding the bend to your stop.

[Thanks, Yossi]

DesignLine turbine hybrid buses take off in NYC, could multiply soon originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 12 Dec 2009 05:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Video: Coda Automotive bringing Miles Electric's sedan to California in 2010

Darren Murph — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 11:22:00 EST

Remember that Miles Electric sedan we heard about last month? Yeah, well it's coming to California's shores next year. An all new car company, doing business under the name of Coda Automotive, has just been formed in order to bring said vehicle into production. The all-electric, four-door Coda won't break down any walls in the design department, but the $45,000 (mid-$30,000s after a $7,500 Federal tax credit and additional state incentives) whip sure sounds promising as an eco-friendly daily driver. Reportedly, it'll cruise for around 90 to 120 miles without needing a recharge, and the batteries within can be charged enough for a 40-mile commute in two hours. It'll also ship with a navigation system, Bluetooth, iPod support and power everything as standard, but sadly, there's no telling when it'll be sold outside of the The Golden State. Video promo is after the break.

Gallery: Coda Automotive launches Miles Electric sedan

Continue reading Video: Coda Automotive bringing Miles Electric's sedan to California in 2010

Filed under: Transportation

Video: Coda Automotive bringing Miles Electric's sedan to California in 2010 originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 04 Jun 2009 11:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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More scientific black magic promises to double Li-ion battery capacity

Darren Murph — Sat, 30 May 2009 23:52:00 EST

Go on and file this one away in the folder of "awesome things that could, but won't ever happen." As the brilliant minds around the world figure out how to solve vicious diseases, move motorcars with peanut oil and send engineers to fix a telescope in outer space, we still can't buy a pack of AA cells that last longer than a month or two in our favorite toy. Some call it a limit of physics, some deem it a conspiracy. Whatever the case, we've no doubt whatsoever that a new silicon-containing carbon material -- designed by Dow Corning Toray to double the capacity of existing Li-ion batteries -- won't ever have a real impact in our lives. Of course, it's not like any consumer would actually benefit from having a netbook battery good for 16 hours, nor would wedding photographers enjoy being able to shoot 1,000 indoor shots without cracking the battery door open on their SB-600. No -- that's just absurd. C'mon Dow, prove us wrong here.

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Science

More scientific black magic promises to double Li-ion battery capacity originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 30 May 2009 23:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Air-fuelled STAIR battery could last ten times longer than traditional cells

Darren Murph — Sat, 23 May 2009 11:44:00 EST

It's funny, really. We've figured out how to put men an women on the moon and repair an orbiting telescope, but we can't concoct an AA battery that lasts more than four days inside a Teddy Ruxpin. Thanks to a revolutionary new design from the labs at the University of St Andrews, all that could be well on the way to changin'. Researchers at said institution have teamed up with partners at Strathclyde and Newcastle in order to design an air-fuelled STAIR (St Andrews Air) cell that could theoretically last up to ten times longer than current batteries. Put as simply as possible, this design utilizes oxygen in the air as a re-agent instead of heavy, costly chemicals; the result is a lighter, cheaper battery with loads more capacity. Needless to say, gurus within the project are already dreaming of a prototype to fit in small gizmos such as cellphones or MP3 players, though we wouldn't expect one anytime soon -- after all, there's still two years of research left to complete.

[Thanks, Khattab]

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets, Science

Air-fuelled STAIR battery could last ten times longer than traditional cells originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 23 May 2009 11:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Toshiba dramatically increases energy density of Li-ion battery

Darren Murph — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 10:12:00 EST

The last time we heard of lithium titanate battery technology was when learning about the £120,000 Lightning GT, and while we've no way to confirm, we're definitely hoping that the latest development from Toshiba ensures that we're talking about it far more frequently than once per year. According to a report over at Nikkei's Tech-On, said outfit has crafted a cell of a Li-ion secondary battery (aimed at electric vehicles, mainly) that sports an energy density as high as 100Wh/kg. Needless to say, the invention relies on lithium titanate for its negative electrode, and considering that Tosh is currently producing a 4.2Ah cell with an energy density of around 67Wh/kg for electric bicycles, it's easy to see what kind of improvement we're staring at. Now, if only this stuff could be applied to AA cells, our power-gulping camera flash would be forever grateful...

Filed under: Peripherals

Toshiba dramatically increases energy density of Li-ion battery originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 15 Apr 2009 10:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AMD proposes new laptop battery life metrics, Intel is like "whatevs"

Darren Murph — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 18:23:00 EST

AMD has struggled of late to produce anything akin to a "good idea," but we've got to give a serious high five to senior VP and CMO Nigel Dessau on this one. While pumping gas one day and thinking about the low / high MPG ratings on vehicles, he began to wonder why laptops are being left out of that scheme. Handsets have talk time / standby time, PMPs have separate longevity ratings for audio and video -- so why on Earth are we generally given just a single figure for laptops? Testing has shown that almost always the quoted figures from laptop makers aren't even close to what users get in the real world, so Dessau is suggesting we implement a "guide rail" system that explains a maximum and minimum life expectancy. As for Intel's take? "There are many ways to measure battery life. We believe the best way to determine how to measure battery life is by making proposals and debating it in industry consortiums and not via a blog post." Oh Intel, could you possibly be any more corporate?

[Via HotHardware]

Read - AMD's take
Read - Intel's take

Filed under: Laptops

AMD proposes new laptop battery life metrics, Intel is like "whatevs" originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 14 Mar 2009 18:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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MIT's quick charging batteries could revolutionize the world, maybe

Darren Murph — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 09:36:00 EST

Okay, so maybe the headline is a tad on the sensational side, but seriously, this has sensational written all over it. A team of brilliant MIT engineers have conjured up a beltway of sorts that allows for "rapid transit of electrical energy through a well-known battery material," something that could usher in smaller and lighter cells that could recharge in moments versus hours. There's even talk that this technology could be adapted for use in automobiles, and honestly, it doesn't take an electrical engineer to understand how rapid charge / discharge batteries could "induce lifestyle changes." Hey, laptop battery makers -- could you guys look into getting these ready to go in machines by CES 2010? That'd be swell, thanks.

[Via BBC, thanks Simon]

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

MIT's quick charging batteries could revolutionize the world, maybe originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Mar 2009 09:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Recalled: 35,000 volatile Sony batteries in Dell / HP / Toshiba laptops

Darren Murph — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 17:25:00 EST

Ruh roh. We're really, really hoping this isn't just the first of another long string of laptop battery recalls, but the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with a slew of other outfits, has just announced a voluntary recall of around 35,000 Sony laptop batteries. As you'd expect, the Li-ions in question "can overheat, posing a fire and burn hazard to consumers," and there have already been 19 reports of overheating including 17 reports of flames / fire and two reports of consumers getting mildly burnt. For the full list (and it's pretty long) of affected laptop models from HP / HP Compaq, Toshiba and Dell, be sure to give the read link some serious attention. Oh, and stop using that battery pronto if yours is one of the afflicted.

Filed under: Laptops, Peripherals

Recalled: 35,000 volatile Sony batteries in Dell / HP / Toshiba laptops originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Oct 2008 17:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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6-cell battery emerges for Acer Aspire One: $119.99 for a few more hours

Darren Murph — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 07:34:00 EST

We fully understand that time is money, but damn. With quite a few folks up in arms over the $50 to $100 price hike on the 6-cell MSI Wind over the standard 3-cell version, we can only imagine the outcries that will come after seeing this. CDW has a product page up that describes an Acer Li-ion 6-cell 5,200mAh battery that's designed to fit snugly within the $379.99 Acer Aspire One netbook. Let's see here -- a $119.99 battery for a $379.99 computer. Is that the absurdity alarm sounding, or are our ears still ringing from all the weekend revelry?

[Via TrustedReviews]

Filed under: Laptops, Peripherals

6-cell battery emerges for Acer Aspire One: $119.99 for a few more hours originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 04 Aug 2008 07:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Microwave process could cut cost of lithium-ion batteries

Donald Melanson — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 18:47:00 EST

While there's plenty of folks out there focused on making lithium-ion batteries safer and longer-lasting, there's also thankfully some dedicated to making 'em cheaper, which is especially welcome when we're talking about the expensive batteries powering cars. Among those in the latter camp is University of Texas at Austin professor Arumugam Manthiram, who has devised a method of using microwaves to heat a concoction of commercially available chemicals, which ultimately results in the Rorschach test of rod-shaped particles of lithium iron phosphate pictured above. While the use of lithium iron phosphate instead of the more commonly used lithium cobalt oxide apparently cuts back on the total amount of energy the batteries can store, it is apparently particularly well-suited to delivering large bursts of power, which should make the batteries ideal for use in hybrid vehicles. What's more, while the actual cost of the materials may not be much cheaper than other solutions, the sheer speed at which Manthiram's process works could allow for higher production rates from the same amount of equipment, which should result in cheaper batteries by the time they roll off the assembly line.

[Via Daily Tech]

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Microwave process could cut cost of lithium-ion batteries originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Jul 2008 18:47:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Penguin United offers its own quad Wiimote charging station

Darren Murph — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 16:36:00 EST

Two 4x Wiimote charging stations in a week? Um, okay. If, for whatever reason, the Nintendo-licensed charger we saw just days ago wasn't right for you (read: too expensive to import), we've got yet another option for you to consider. Penguin United -- which gets brownie points on name alone -- has just unveiled the Quad Charge Station for Wii, which utilizes Li-ion batteries that promise 13 full hours of playtime from each Wiimote. Additionally, it can juice up your controllers in just 4 hours, and there's even LEDs to inform you of how close to full each one is. The real kicker? The colored Wiimote straps that PU tosses in -- huzzah! Include one in your next party for $44.99.

[Via IGN]

Filed under: Gaming, Peripherals

Penguin United offers its own quad Wiimote charging station originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 30 Jul 2008 16:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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GM cranks up battery tests for plug-in Volt

Darren Murph — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 17:23:00 EST

General Motors doesn't have long before everyone and their cousin expects to see at least a few Volts on the road -- and it knows it. In an attempt to make sure the deadline is met, the firm has battery testing going on 'round the clock in Michigan and Germany that will theoretically simulate a decade of use in just two years. Additionally, it's placing batteries in test Malibus in order to get a feel for real-world results. Still, GM has yet to definitively decide on the final engine or which battery supplier it'll end up working with, but as the eleventh hour grows ever closer, we can only hope that the pieces start to come together.

[Via CNET, image courtesy of Reuters]

Filed under: Transportation

GM cranks up battery tests for plug-in Volt originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 04 Apr 2008 17:23:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mercedes S400 BlueHybrid aims to be first to use Li-ion battery

Darren Murph — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 13:04:00 EST

There's a decent chance your average hybrid owner wouldn't know the difference between a lithium-ion and nickel-metal hydride battery if their life depended on it, but we know you -- dear reader -- are not one of those "average" joes / janes. That being the case, you may be interested to know that the 2009-bound S400 BlueHybrid is in prime position to be the world's first production Li-ion hybrid, which will offer up "compact dimensions and far superior performance" compared to existing rivals. M-B goes on to trumpet the technology's "high ampere-hour efficiency, long service life, and great reliability, even at very low temperatures." No word on just how astronomically high this thing will be priced at, but you can expect just shy of 30 miles-per-gallon in mixed driving conditions, for what it's worth.

Filed under: Transportation

Mercedes S400 BlueHybrid aims to be first to use Li-ion battery originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 01 Mar 2008 13:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tektronix oscilloscopes could catch fire due to volatile Li-ion

Darren Murph — Tue, 16 Oct 2007 03:01:00 EST

We've seen some strange devices catch fire due to faulty batteries, but this one just may take top honors. Apparently, a pair of Tektronix oscilloscopes (model numbers TDS3000 and TDS3000B) have the potential of catching fire; according to the company, it has received two reports of the units "burning at customer sites." Upon closer inspection, it was noticed that the machines both relied on a TDS3BATB Li-ion battery, which is now carrying the blame for the unexpected blazes. If you or a loved one just so happen to own or use one of these rigs in your everyday life, Tektronix is suggesting that you power it down and stop using the battery until further notice.

[Via TheInquirer]

Filed under: Misc. Gadgets

Tektronix oscilloscopes could catch fire due to volatile Li-ion originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 16 Oct 2007 03:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nissan takes wraps off conceptual Pivo 2 electric car

Darren Murph — Fri, 05 Oct 2007 11:42:00 EST

Apparently, one Pivo just isn't enough, as Nissan today unveiled the Pivo 2 concept car at the Tokyo Motor Show. The fully electric vehicle boasts a 360-degree turning cabin, 90-degree turning wheels and "employs by-wire technologies for braking and steering." Yes, that means that this thing can "drive sideways as well as forward," and thanks to the in-cabin Robotic Agent, you can now rest assured that someone, er, something will be along for every ride to give you tips on finding the nearest parking garage. As expected, there's no telling if this thing will ever show up en masse on dealer lots, but feel free to hit the via link for a smattering of photographs.

[Via Autoblog]

Filed under: Transportation

Nissan takes wraps off conceptual Pivo 2 electric car originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 05 Oct 2007 11:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Japanese government orders Nokia to report on overheating batteries

Darren Murph — Fri, 17 Aug 2007 20:48:00 EST

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry has ordered Nokia's Japan unit to "report by next Friday on details of a series of accidents" involving Matsushita's li-ion batteries that were recently found to have, shall we say, toasty tendencies. Reportedly, the ministry had phoned up Nokia Japan President Tyler McGee to hear his explanation, but apparently, it has deemed that more details are necessary. It seems the purpose here is to examine whether there were "any problems with Nokia Japan's handling of the overheating accidents," and considering that it purportedly took 16 days (6 more than the limit) for that unit to report initially on the problem, it may already be in a bit of hot water.

Filed under: Peripherals, Nokia, Misc, Softbank Mobile

Japanese government orders Nokia to report on overheating batteries originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Aug 2007 20:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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