Commercialising battery with super storage
18 March, 2013 by Mike Smyth, specialist technical writerA CSIRO invention that turns a conventional lead-acid battery into a two-energy super storage device could contribute to a wider take-up of hybrid electric vehicles among other uses.
New battery for rail, marine, mining, communications and energy sectors
08 March, 2013 by Mike Smyth, specialist technical writerWith world demand for batteries of all types forecast to reach a value of $132 billion by 2016, there is always going to be an opening for new types. Now GE is developing a longer lasting and more durable battery that charges more quickly and could contribute to raising the efficiencies of solar and wind power.
Greater range for electric cars in the future
25 February, 2013Schott developers are using glass-ceramic as a separator material for lithium-air batteries which will hopefully extend the range of tomorrow’s electrically powered automobiles by several times.
UltraBattery inventor retires
22 February, 2013Dr Lan Lam, the primary inventor of the UltraBattery, and his team took the world’s 150-year-old battery technology and revolutionised it in the laboratories of CSIRO. On 21 February Dr Lan retired, leaving a legacy of impact.
Engineer making rechargeable batteries with layered nanomaterials
22 January, 2013A Kansas State University researcher is developing more efficient ways to save costs, time and energy when creating nanomaterials and lithium-ion batteries.
Using snails’ teeth to improve solar cells and batteries
18 January, 2013 by Sean NealonThe teeth of a marine snail found off the coast of California are being used to create less costly and more efficient nanoscale materials to improve solar cells and lithium-ion batteries.
Researchers seek longer battery life for electric locomotive
08 January, 2013Norfolk Southern Railway No 999 is the first all-electric, battery-powered locomotive in the United States. But when one of the thousand lead-acid batteries that power it dies, the locomotive shuts down.
Unexpected factor could limit battery performance
14 December, 2012A recent study of the batteries commonly used in hybrid and electric-only cars has revealed an unexpected factor that could limit the performance of batteries currently on the road.
Power transfer from wheels to power an electric car
10 December, 2012A proof-of-concept, scale-model electric car has demonstrated electric power transfer via the car wheel to the vehicle for the first time. This could dramatically reduce the batteries needed in electric cars.
Cardinal Components EnerChip rechargeable solid-state batteries
05 December, 2012Cardinal Components now offers EnerChip rechargeable solid-state batteries (SSBs), with integrated power management in a single chip.
World demand for batteries to reach $132 billion in 2016
04 December, 2012World demand for primary and secondary batteries is forecast to rise 8.1% per year to $132 billion in 2016. Demand for secondary batteries is expected to rise at a faster rate than demand for primary batteries.
Durst Industries industrial diagnostic and charging catalogue
04 December, 2012Australian owned and operated company Durst Industries has released its 28-page 2013 catalogue which features its range of heavy-duty jump starters, industrial workshop battery chargers and battery load testers.
Cheaper and safer lithium battery production
16 November, 2012Researchers at Aalto University, Finland, have developed a method for producing lithium batteries that is claimed to be cheaper and more environmentally friendly than previously used methods. This new process has succeeded in replacing the harmful methylpyrrolidone (NMP) solvent, which is traditionally used in the manufacturing of electrodes, with water.
Spray-on lithium-ion batteries
12 November, 2012 by Mike Smyth, specialist technical writerResearchers at Rice University in the US have developed a lithium-ion battery that can be spray painted onto virtually any surface.
Altronic Distributors N 2104 Manson 12 V battery isolator
11 July, 2012Altronic Distributors has released the N 2104 Manson heavy-duty, 12 V battery isolator, designed for use in dual battery systems, eg, a main battery and an auxiliary battery.