Presently, Toshiba is in limited production of a lithium-ion battery that charges to 90% in less than five minutes, and is being used in electric forklifts. If you have a battery that can meet the deep-cycle needs of an electric powered forklift, you have a battery that can be used most anywhere: like electric cars or to store power generated from solar panels or wind generators....or in my case: sever flatulence. Problem is, the battery is only viable for 5000+ charges or ten years which ever comes first:) I've read that they are gearing up to super-mass produce these by the end of next year.
Many new silicon purification plants are coming on line as I speak to help bring down the cost of solar panels. New panel designs using nanotechnology and other new and not-so-new technologies will be available soon, which will cost less and be significantly more efficient.
This is only a drop in the bucket of what we know is happening. There is still that which is being worked on in secret which is probably far more than what we know.
Get ready. We're closer than we think.
james
Quote from: JamesThomas on September 14, 2008, 07:31:33 PMPresently, Toshiba is in limited production of a lithium-ion battery that charges to 90% in less than five minutes, and is being used in electric forklifts.
That sounds somewhat similar to the Epyon (http://www.epyon.nl/technology)/TU Delft approach that uses supercaps (that are charged quickly and then these charge batteries because those can hold a charge longer). WO/2006/112698 (http://www.wipo.int/pctdb/en/wo.jsp?wo=2006112698)
EESTOR supercapacitor used by ZENN electric car is supposed to be out in 2009
Ah, that'd be awesome if you could charge your car in 5 minutes! :o