According to a recent survey people were found to love the idea of electric cars most due to lower impact on the environment, as well as the money saved on gas. However, 65% polled showed that they had ‘range anxiety’ (stranded with no power) that prevented them from purchasing an electric vehicle. It’s with the peoples concern that IBM started their ‘Battery 500 Project’ back in 2009, which could make future generations of batteries capable of traveling 500 miles on a single charge over the current generations’ 100 mile capacity.

Fast-forward to 2012 and Central Glass (materials manufacturing) along with Asahi Kasei (chemical manufacturing) have jumped on-board in developing a new type of lithium-air battery. Lithium-air batteries are designed to take in air (or breathe) as the vehicle is being driven which mixes with lithium-ions on the batteries anode (oxidation). This reaction produces lithium-peroxide which in-turn reduces the oxygen on the nan-carbon matrix layer of the battery thereby creating electricity and putting lithium back onto the anode. This process helps to extend the charge of the battery by storing the electricity created during the chemical reaction. While the development of the battery is still in its infancy, IBM is looking to release their final design to the automotive industry sometime around 2030.

Waiting almost two decades to get a 500 mile range electric car is not acceptable. Oil reserves, depending on who you ask, are predicted to be depleted within the next 12 - 40 years. Oil is an essential part of manufacturing, product composition, and farming. Wasting oil in human transportation, when there is an alternative close at hand, seems like a crime. The Tesla Roadster and Model S both have a 300 mile option already. Double the size of the battery, add solar, and suddenly there is a possible 700 mile electric car. Cost is the true problem. I am sure the IBM Lithium-Air battery will be comparatively expensive when it is released.

Tesla Model S battery (in white/yellow area). Doubling that size does not seem out of the question. (via Tesla Motors)

Cabe

http://twitter.com/Cabe_e14

Hiriko concept images (via MIT)

Double saving with this car! You can save money and save room. Hiriko ("of the city") is the name of the double whammy car that can not only fold itself but runs on electric. The inventor is Jose Manual Barroso who is the president of the European Commission, in Brussels. Barroso is working on the project with the Spanish government and the USA's MIT Media Lab. Their goal is to have the Hiriko on Spanish streets by 2014.

Being a folding, do not except much room. The rear wheels simply fold right under the chassis, compressing the rear section forward, folding vertically. This makes the car only two-thirds the of the floor real estate of the Smart ForTwo. In other words, it is small when parked. There is only one door to get in and out this two-seater. The last car that opened up in the front was not much of a success, let us hope for the best with this one.

Hiriko’s power comes from a four in-wheel motor. Each wheel is independently driven and is steered by the “robot” electric motor. The oddest design feature stated is the system can tug at the drivers fingers via haptic feedback in the steering wheel. Aside from the haptic traditional shaped steering wheel, a joystick control will also be an option, which is undeniably a throw-back option similar to early model automobiles.

Unfortunately, you cannot get your hands on one. Only the 20 prototypes are rolling out to street testing in various European and American cities so far. However, in 2014, expect a price tag for the EV Hiriko to be in the $16,000 range.

Cabe

http://twitter.com/Cabe_e14

EV charging stations are not on every corner, like all electric car drivers would wish. Being able to plug in anywhere is not an option for most. New York based Leviton has just announced a portable charger that can be used anywhere a common 15A plug is available. The "Evr-GreenTM 120 Level 1 Portable Charger" is small enough to be stored in the EV, light enough to be carried. The business end of this charge is compliant with all major plug in vehicles, aka SAE J1772TM compliant.

Like all level 1 charging devices, there is only so much that can be drawn from a single phase, 15-20A, 110-125V AC plug. With level 1, full charging can take up to 20 hours. However, even if only 1 - 8 hours can be drawn, it would aid in extending the range to the next location. I am officially much less reluctant to purchase an EV.

Eavesdropper

pic via Leviton