Energy technology: Researchers are desperate to find a modern-day philosopher's stone: the battery technology that will make electric cars practical.
A couple of years ago eletric cars were supposed to herald a revolution. Many people thought this was the start of the modern mass-production of electric cars.
But its limited range, and the fact that it took many hours to recharge, among other reasons, convinced GM and other carmakers that had launched all-electric models to abandon their efforts a few years later.
Yet today about a dozen firms are once again developing all-electric or plug-in hybrid vehicles (a well known example is the Toyota Prius - picture) capable of running on batteries for short trips (and, in the case of plug-in hybrids, firing up an internal-combustion engine for longer trips). So what has changed? Aside from growing concern about climate change and a surge in the oil price, the big difference is that battery technology is getting a lot better.
But the technology is not good enough. In fact, compared with computer chips, battery technology has improved very slowly over the years. The next step is rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, which helped to make the mobile-phone revolution possible in the past decade, are now expected to power the increasing electrification of the car.
A big market awaits the firms that manage to adapt lithium-ion batteries for cars. Between now and 2015, 'insiders' saying the worldwide market for hybrid-vehicle batteries will more than triple.
Lithium-ion technology has a lot of advantages, but it still has weaknesses that makes those batteries not the perfect sollution for the future. Hopefully, one day, the scientists will finde a "superbattery" that is able to give power for a very long time and that will stay stable for a long period..
I certainly agree with people who say that, until now, batteries are one of the most hatefull things that are ever invented. Say your self, how many times is there a situation that, when you need those batteries, and there are out of power..
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Hybrid-vehicle batteries would be great in spite of the few desadvantages it has. I'm sure specialists will work on it the following years. Everything we can do for the environment is good so it's another great invention.
It's true that batteries aren't always even reliable, but cars on batteries would be a big improvement in the road to a greener world. And isn't that what we all want?
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