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Politics : Politics of Energy -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Hawkmoon who wrote (10875)	7/8/2009 11:28:48 AM
From: RetiredNow	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 86356

It's a good question and the article doesn't supply an answer. However, all the car companies are doing precisely these tests and are engineering for a 10 year lifespan. That should cover the ownership years for 99% of car consumers. I guess I should turn the question back on you. Why aren't you demanding that our car companies build cars that last for 20 years, since you are demanding that EV car battery makers do the same? You aren't comparing apples to apples.

To: Hawkmoon who wrote (10875)	7/8/2009 11:38:44 AM
From: RetiredNow	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 86356

It's a good thing our brilliant American minds aren't as skeptical as you are about the future of battery technology. IBM is getting into the game. These guys smell profits. Boldest Baddest Battery By IBM Posted on July 7th, 2009 by admin IBM, yes, the computer company is fed up with the lagging green economy. That is why they have decided to build the boldest battery yet that will put lithium ion to shame. The next generation battery by IBM is said to be able to store 10X the power that today’s top lithium ions can handle. Now, some may scratch their heads as to why a computer company would want to build next generation batteries. They may even liken it to Exxon building hybrid car enabling technology. But the pot of the gold at the end of the rainbow for IBM may be smart grid technology. The aging electrical grid, if converted to smart grid technology will need new software and hardware for its infrastructure. I’ve talked about smart metering as one way for computer software, hardware and infrastructure companies to make money. Smart grid technology is similar. The new IBM batteries will help solve the problem of intermittent energy from wind and solar power. Some advocates want to store this power as hydrogen or molten salt or many other methods. Storing the power in batteries and then using it when the wind isn’t blowing or the sun isn’t shining solves the problem and is a potential money magnet. In addition if the same battery technology can be used in hybrid, plug-in hybrid and battery electric cars, (along with software and hardware controllers) then this could mean a cash windfall for Big Blue (IBM) as well. As Big Blue goes green, this may just be the change for which we’ve all been waiting. greentechgazette.com