Silicon replacing graphite: the key to long range electric cars using lithium ion batteries?

Posted in Cars, Technology / By /

Electric Proton Persona

Hanyang University of Korea’s Professor Cho Jae-Phil claims his research team have discovered a way to produce lithium ion batteries that have 8 times more battery life than existing lithium ion batteries!

Now if this were a gadget blog you’d immediately think longer battery life for laptops, but since this is an automotive blog I’m pretty sure you’re thinking what I’m thinking – could this finally seal the fate of electric cars as the new mode of propulsion of the future?

It seems that the lithium ion batteries of today, while still superior to nickel batteries, are limited by the ability of its graphite cathode to store lithium ions. By applying a three-dimensional porous silicon, Professor Cho’s research team claims to be able to store up to 8 times the amount of lithium ions compared to current battery technology.

In another related news story earlier this year, a Stamford University research team discovered a (similiar?) way to improve lithium ion batteries to hold as much as 10 times more charge. It also involved replacing the graphite with a “forest” of silicon nanowires which can store much more lithium compared to graphite.

Related Posts:
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BMW confirms plans to build electric city car
BMW unveils the MINI E electric car
Pininfarina B0 Electric Car Concept

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Paul Tan

After dabbling for years in the IT industry, Paul Tan initially began this site as a general blog covering various topics of personal interest. With an increasing number of readers paying rapt attention to the motoring stories, one thing led to another and the rest, as they say, is history.

 

Comments

  • kai_stereo (Member) on Nov 16, 2008 at 7:51 pm

    first comment. huhu…
    this car can run 120 km or 140 km????
    huhu… =D

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  • thecordwainers (Member) on Nov 16, 2008 at 7:58 pm

    so is this the solution for huge and expensive lithium ion battery pack that all EV makers looking for??

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  • ALPINA Bukard Bovensiepen GMBH + Co. KG (Member) on Nov 16, 2008 at 8:23 pm

    electric cars…..life is sad…

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  • jasonlow (Member) on Nov 16, 2008 at 9:05 pm

    Heard the news from a gadget blog, n Hanyang University is my university!!! Studying mechanical engineering here! hehe… really proud to hear something like this from my university!

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  • hyundai (Member) on Nov 16, 2008 at 11:45 pm

    Maybe Hyundai and Kia will be the first car to use it since they are all in Korean… Then can beat the stupid Prius…

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  • Wisdom (Member) on Nov 16, 2008 at 11:53 pm

    As I said, as long as it preserve the world.

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  • fastcx (Member) on Nov 17, 2008 at 12:26 am

    not just preserve the world, imagine those over 200Nm of instant torque!!! burn rubber with ease ;)

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  • csv (Member) on Nov 17, 2008 at 12:58 am

    so any companies interested to buy over the idea?

    mass market it?

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  • narrowband (Member) on Nov 17, 2008 at 9:11 am

    There’re thousands of universities in the world and I may not have heard of them all but “Standard University” is one heck of an unlikely name for an institution for higher learning.

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  • ALPINA Burkard Bovensiepen GMBH + Co. KG (Member) on Nov 17, 2008 at 1:55 pm

    please make electric cars look like lamborghinis

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  • rufus-x (Member) on Nov 17, 2008 at 7:32 pm

    err..from the picture…
    is that the engine bay for gen2…?
    i think it is….

    or its just a picture…from gen2 eVe….?

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  • hidrogentank (Member) on Nov 18, 2008 at 10:15 am

    kudos to them scientists n engineers. da future is comin
    !!!

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  • ALPINA Burkard Bovensiepen GMBH + Co. KG (Member) on Nov 19, 2008 at 10:13 am

    its a proton

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