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There seems to be a 'revolution' in battery tech every so often or so out of R&D labs. So far, the promised improvements have not yet made their way into mainst
by Gladdyu 11y ago
There seems to be a 'revolution' in battery tech every so often or so out of R&D labs. So far, the promised improvements have not yet made their way into mainstream, commercial batteries: higher production costs, lower capacity or lesser lifespan.
I hope this one sticks, although I would not bet on it.
- audunw 11y agoIt seems they're closer than the "breakthroughs" you usually hear about. My impression is that the prototype is a product prototype, i.e. something they're actually testing and trying to design products around, rather than just a lab prototype.
- ZenoArrow 11y agoResearch into battery technology is high profile because of the demand for better batteries, but it's good to understand that it isn't the researchers that are claiming 'revolutions' are happening, it's a PR exercise. Most progress is iterative and gradual. The research often isn't important because of a big 'breakthrough' but rather because it provides the answer to a small part of a bigger puzzle. As for better batteries (cheaper, better capacity, etc...) not making it to the market, consider the following graph showing the improvements in price and performance of Li-ion batteries between 1991 and 2005: http://i.imgur.com/NjvUGXh.png http://i.imgur.com/NjvUGXh.png
- mikeash 11y agoBatteries are improving all the time. By the time a "breakthrough" makes it to market, it's just the next incremental improvement.