Which company or group offers the most advanced battery technology available for plug-ins cars?

Question

What battery technology does teslamotors use? Whose? Thanks.

Answer 1

You don't necessarily need "more advanced."  Thomas Edison invented a battery with much higher energy density than today's car batteries - and that lasts 30 years.

His trick was simple: don't make the battery out of lead :)    His battery also doesn't change the electrolyte, so it can't freeze and charge doesn't depend on having a lot of electrolyte.   It's a cousin to the NiMH.

Answer 2

That might be Altair Nano  a nanotech company that has created a lithium titanate battery.  It's the battery used in the electric pickup being built by Phoenix Motorcars.  Along with a 440 volt charging system it can be charged in 10 minutes.

The car has an onboard 110V  plug in charger that charges it in 6 hours.  

This utility pickup is being marketed in Mexico as a delivery vehicle and job truck.  It only has a 130 mile range so far.  they say they are improving on that.

  If there was a network of 440 charging stations range wouldn't be much of an issue.



There is A123 Systems which makes an advanced lithium ion battery using their Nanophosphate technology .  They are working with a company called Cobasys to develop battery systems for hybrid electrics. the Saturn Vue a plug in  hybrid in development uses A123 batteries.

Tesla is getting pretty good range with their luxury roadster and good performance.  up to 220 miles range  0-60 in 4 seconds  130 mph

People, who have test driven them, say they are exhilerating to drive.  The G force when excellerating on the freeway is amazing. Electric motors have good torque.  



from an article by "Motor Trend, found at Tesla's website:

"What's worrying my neck is the combination of the motor's 211 pound-feet of zero-rpm torque and the ease with which its 6831-cell, lithium-ion battery pack can juice the little banshee. Note that, at an estimated 2690-pound curb weight, the Tesla Roadster has a weight-to-torque ratio of 12.7 pounds/pound-foot. By comparison, it's natural reference, the sizzling Lotus Exige S (with 165 pound-feet of torque and 630 fewer pounds) offers 12.5 pounds/pound-foot-but only when you finally reach 5500 rpm. Notably, that's not zero rpm"

The fuel economy is equivalent to 105mpg.

It recharges in 3.5 hours at 220V/70amp.

They have had some problems in transmission design that they are working out.

Not bad for an electric car, eh? And the price is competitive with the Lotus or a similar Porche.

Tesla is a small company without much economy of scale advantage to bring the price down.

Answer 3

www.teslamotors.com