New "instantly rechargeable" batteries could be a game changer...

[Trump]

Go With The Flow

Purdue researchers have developed technology for an “instantly rechargeable” battery that is affordable, environmentally friendly, and safe. Currently, electric vehicles need charging ports in convenient locations to be viable, but this battery technology would allow drivers of hybrid and electric vehicles to charge up much like drivers of conventional cars refill quickly and easily at gas stations.

This breakthrough would not only speed the switch to electric vehicles by making them more convenient to drive, but also reduce the amount of new supportive infrastructure needed for electric cars dramatically. Purdue University professors John Cushman and Eric Nauman teamed up with doctoral student Mike Mueterthies to co-found Ifbattery LLC (IF-battery) for commercializing and developing the technology.

Image Credit: John Cushman/Purdue

The new model is a flow battery, which does not require an electric charging station to be recharged. Instead, all the users have to do is replace the battery’s fluid electrolytes — rather like filling up a tank. This battery’s fluids from used batteries, all clean, inexpensive, and safe, could be collected and recharged at any solar, wind, or hydroelectric plant. Electric cars using this technology would arrive at the refueling station, deposit spent fluids for recharging, and “fill up” like a traditional car might.

Cleaner, Faster Battery Technology

This flow battery system is unique because, unlike other versions of the flow battery, this one lacks the membranes which are both costly and vulnerable to fouling. “Membrane fouling can limit the number of recharge cycles and is a known contributor to many battery fires,” Cushman said in a press release. “Ifbattery’s components are safe enough to be stored in a family home, are stable enough to meet major production and distribution requirements, and are cost effective.”

Transitioning existing infrastructure to accommodate cars using these batteries would be far simpler than designing and building a host of new charging stations — which is Tesla’s current strategy. Existing pumps could even be used for these battery chemicals, which are very safe.
“Electric and hybrid vehicle sales are growing worldwide and the popularity of companies like Tesla is incredible, but there continues to be strong challenges for industry and consumers of electric or hybrid cars,” Cushman said in the press release. “The biggest challenge for industry is to extend the life of a battery’s charge and the infrastructure needed to actually charge the vehicle.”

When can we expect to see these batteries in use? The biggest hurdle isn’t the materials, which are cheap and plentiful, but person power. The researchers still need more financing to complete research and development to put the batteries into mass production. To overcome this problem, they’re working to publicize the innovation in the hopes of drawing interest from investors.

https://futurism.com/new-instantly-r...-fossil-fuels/

[GO FURTHER]

Hmm ....This technology and idea has been around for a while.

I'm wondering why Tesla are spending billions on Lithium based technology and huge battery manufacturing plants as well as other global battery companies, if this is the way of the future in rechargeable cells.

Surely Tesla and other battery companies who invest millions in research and hire some of the smartest scientists on the planet, are not that stupid?

There must be some downsides to this instantly rechargeable technology.

Back in the 60s-70s there was an idea floated around that the entire bottom end of an electric car would be stuffed with batteries in the form of a removable platform/pack and then you would drive up to a "refuelling" station and the whole bottom of the car would drop out and a new battery bank would then roll from an underground conveyor belt then be lifted by a lift into the bottom of your car.

The financial idea behind it was that all you would do is rent the recharged pack and you would get the new reconditioned pack for free. Because everyone else would have the same docking port on the bottom of their cars so it was a universal battery pack and all you had to do was pay for the recharge. And because it was replacing the entire pack all at once they could use really high energy dense batteries but ones that took a long time to recharge. And you didn't have to wait for it to be recharged. You would get a 100% fully charged pack in about 5-10 mins.

The ideas are there its just all a matter of wanting electric cars. Right now we have petrol cars and thats a huge investment in infrastructure that we've made which won't go away anytime soon.

They also say that most if not all petrol cars will become extinct soon. I don't believe it, mainly because you need to buy a new car for it to become electric in most cases and people are poor as anything. Nobody will be able to afford the next step into electric cars and if it ever does actually occur it will be a long hard expensive process taking at least 100 years and thats if we start now.

This new battery however could change things quite a bit. If its not a flash in the pan that is.

[malazn mafia]

Not a chemist or battery expert by any stretch, but if one were to exchange the fluid between a flat lead acid battery and one charged lead acid battery, would the charge be able to be transferred via fluid? Always pondered this as a child.

[Beastie]

I'll be back in an instant...

[snap0964]

Originally Posted by malazn mafia

Not a chemist or battery expert by any stretch, but if one were to exchange the fluid between a flat lead acid battery and one charged lead acid battery, would the charge be able to be transferred via fluid? Always pondered this as a child.

Nah, won't work very well - the charge process involves the plates and the electrolyte. You'll still need a charge on the plates to convert the lead sulphate on the plates back to lead and lead dioxide.
From what I can see with flow batteries is that there are no plates, just two different separated electrolyte solutions.
Correct me if I'm wrong.

[rjk74]

I'm picking this to be next generation of batteries, amazing that this bloke is in his 90s.
http://www.greencarreports.com/news/...try-introduced