Car's Body Could Work As A Battery

[n2doc]

Wed Sep 29, 2010 08:30 AM ET
Content provided by John Voelcker,

The biggest challenge for battery electric vehicles is clearly the cost and the weight of today's lithium-ion battery packs.

Now Volvo is experimenting with a new composite material that can store and release energy more quickly than a convention lithium-ion cell and, it says, might one day replace steel for making auto body panels.

The material is being developed by a consortium of nine European companies and organizations, launched by the Imperial College in London and funded in part by the European Union. Volvo is the sole carmaker in the three-year project.

The team will initially focus just on developing the material, composed of carbon fibers and polymer resin. It is said to be both strong and pliant, meaning it can be shaped as necessary--which could allow it to replace steel panels on future cars, lightening the body structure to improve overall efficiency.

It could also do double duty for hybrids and plug-in vehicles, cutting the size and weight of the car's lithium battery.

more

http://news.discovery.com/tech/cars-body-could-be-the-battery.html

[IDemo]

1. It sounds to be more of a supercap than battery

Which would generally mean faster charging and discharging, better regen-braking performance and lower energy storage overall. But they are also expecting up to an 81 mile range with a composite hood, roof, and a full set of door panels on a normal sedan.

[Nihil]

2. That should sort out the car-thieves ...

... whose M.O. is to punch a hole through the door with a screwdriver ...!