news.com.com — Fuel cells & alternative batteries have a chance to go mainstream, thanks to technology improvements & exploding laptops. With the Dell battery recall in the news, Ross Dueber of Zinc Matrix Power, has two words for you: think zinc. Lithium ion batteries contain a highly flammable liquid in a pressurized vessel, silver zinc-based cannot explode.
Aug 15, 2006 View in Crawl 4
Closed AccountAug 16, 2006
meh, with enough will power, zinc can and WILL explode!
diecastbeatdownAug 16, 2006
why are people more critical these days? i believe it can be contributed to the openness of our society with all of the blogging, commentary and 'reality tv' which invites us to criticize people in the most microscopic detail. perhaps that criticism was always there, but now has a voice.at any rate, i don't care for it very much and strive to be a bit more accepting and forgiving of simple errors which may not be intentional.
adolfojpAug 16, 2006
"... that sounds like a challenge >:)"Sounds like a job for the Mythbusters!mmm.... Kari....
farticusAug 16, 2006
Super Capacitors with surface geometry formed by regular arrays of carbon nano-tubes are about as good as you can get, they have the capacity of a battery (or better), less weight and very rapid charge/discharge. You can also cycle them 100,000's of times with no degradation. MIT have already got them "in the lab".
dragAug 16, 2006
This problem of explosions and such are paticular to Lithium-ion batteries. Lithium is very unstable and you have to add stuff to it to stabilize it. Also all Lithium-ion batteries have special electronics built into them to make sure you don't overcharge them or undercharge them. Either way you can instantly destroy a lithium-ion battery the first time you undercharge or over charge them, which is why the electronic circuit is their to protect them.Nickel Cadium batteries are nearly indistructable. You can smash them, submerge them, and nothing bad will usually happen. If they get old they'll leak. If you overcharge them they may pop, but that's about it.That's why you'll see Nicad batteries for RC-cars and such. They can be banged around and such.Trouble with Nicads is that they are relatively heavy and don't hold a charge or as much charge as well as Lithium-ion. At least they don't explode so much, right?This is why electric cars are still mostly a pipe-dream. You either end up with a slow car that weighs twice as much as a normal car, or you end up with a fast light car that may spontaniously explode if you leave it in direct sunlight or catch on fire in your garage the night after you hit a speed bump to fast. (a bit of sarcasm, but basicly accurate)This is what we call 'Not a Good Thing' (tm).Also batteries lose their capacity. For instance a laptop may run on a battery for 4 hours when it's brand new, but after 2 years of constant usage it may only run for 2 or 2 and a half hours.You buy a fancy lithium-ion based car now it may drive 120 miles on a charge. How long do you own cars? I own mine for 5 years now, drive it 45 miles every single day to and from work. If it was a eletric car how much range would I have now after over 2000 recharge discharge cycles? 30 miles? 60 miles?And what about the environmental costs? Compared to lithium-ion batteries Oil waste is nearly as safe to drink as spring water.
ahudsonAug 16, 2006
Batteries will also improve with similar advances
Closed AccountAug 17, 2006
I prefer Snakes on a Plane
elumenopeeAug 17, 2006
I think you all have got a zinc kink in your think.(Name that reference)
ldykillr75Aug 17, 2006
Dell brand fire extinguishers as optional accessories... coming soon.Remember do not put laptops on your lap.