We have already briefly discussed on the subject of batteries and more specifically, Lithium-Ion batteries and I have received a question on the subject last time I spoke about it. Someone asked me if such batteries were not dangerous as ‘Lithium is highly explosive when it comes in contact with oxygen’. Now I really was caught off guard and let me confess that it has been good 5 years since I touched chemistry, so I had to do some referring. But now as GM is all set to unveil its new Li-Ion Battery in future, we will answer all those questions and look at GM’s new venture too.
GM chairman Rick Wagoner announced that he expects the company to bring its first lithium-ion battery powered hybrid engine system to market in North America in 2010. This follows an announcement two days ago that Daimler will also be bringing lithium-ion technology to some of its cars for the first time, and an announcement from Toyota several months ago that said the company would soon begin mass production of lithium-ion batteries. GM also claims the new battery will deliver three times the power of current nickel metal-hydride batteries. The report said that automakers and battery companies across the globe have been racing to develop lithium-ion technology, seen by many as the key to mass producing hybrid vehicles powered by conventional and electric motors.
GM did say that even with the new batteries, it would only run on electric-only power for “brief” periods of time. Now the question of using Li-ion batteries and their safety comes up here. Li-Ion batteries have always been dubbed as the future, but yes, there are potential drawbacks that are less written about. The batteries can be explosive when ripped open without proper care, so maybe a car accident with such a battery could lead to flames. Moreover, I have also been informed that its efficiency varies with temperature and shelf-life diminishes its value. Now someone will have to confirm this to me (maybe GM), but that is exactly why making one is so difficult. Hopefully we will be able to work a way around the problems or better, GM will do it for us. I suppose that answers plenty of questions regarding the Li-ion battery and will create plenty more. But good luck to GM on the venture.
