new battery tech

[atavar]

I read about a new battery system today.  It incorporates some new fangled supercapacitors and small LiFe batteries.  they say it will reduce a car battery to 6 pounds.  Hopefully they come out with a bike version.

http://techcrunch.com/2015/08/12/ohm-is-a-smarter-lighter-car-battery-that-works-with-your-existing-car/

[Wayne Orwig]

Costs three times as much.
Maybe lasts twice as long. (maybe not)
Has about 1/4 the capacity.
And they didn't even cover the fact that it fails when it is cold out.

Can you buy a bridge from them too?

[atavar]

I don't know about capacity, have no idea what the capacity of the capacitor is..  but if they can make a 6 pound car battery they should be able to make a 1 pound bike battery.  That would be attractive to a lot of folks. 

[Wayne Orwig]

I don't know about capacity, have no idea what the capacity of the capacitor is..  but if they can make a 6 pound car battery they should be able to make a 1 pound bike battery.  That would be attractive to a lot of folks.

They tell you in the article that it is bout 1/4. The capacitor would only provide momentary bulk inrush capacity.

 

[atavar]

Probably not useful for anything but a track bike.  I bet you don't get many tries to start.

[boatdetective]

Like any of the other Lithium batteries, I am very leery about the sophisticated charging circuitry necessary tio control the whole mess. There are a number of boats that have burned to the waterline because of the latest greatest technology and no one is owning up to it. I'm not being a luddite- i'm just saying that inventions like this have a (necessarily) long testing phase. Obviously, it seems that Toyota seems to have a winner with the prius storage system- but that's now what you'd call lightweight.

[kevdog3019]

My EXPERIENCE: I have a 12oz life in my super Lario and it has served me wonderfully this season. Yeah, it's 4x2 inches. Is says for track use only. I get that it has little capacity and a big wallop but my charging system does just fine with it thank you. Battery technology is probably the coolest thing going right now. Prices will fall Wayne like with anything and when it's all over we will have smaller/lighter batteries that should last longer and be less maintenance intensive. I'm for it.
If you like acid spills stick with the old.

[Wayne Orwig]

When I leave work at 1am, and the Stelvio is sitting outside where it is around 10F degrees. I would be stranded by one of those goofy batteries.
Or I can use a MUCH cheaper AGM, and go home.

Obviously, it seems that Toyota seems to have a winner with the prius storage system

Depends on your point of view. A coworker bought a used Prius. She had nothing but good things to say about it for about two years. Then she started to have issues with it, getting error code and it not running right. Turns out the battery was toast. $7000. That's a lot of gasoline.

[boatdetective]

When I leave work at 1am, and the Stelvio is sitting outside where it is around 10F degrees. I would be stranded by one of those goofy batteries.
Or I can use a MUCH cheaper AGM, and go home.


Depends on your point of view. A coworker bought a used Prius. She had nothing but good things to say about it for about two years. Then she started to have issues with it, getting error code and it not running right. Turns out the battery was toast. $7000. That's a lot of gasoline.

Oh- no question there. People don't like to discuss what happens with those dead lithiums and its environmental impact.
Like you, Im a huge fan of my AGMs. I look at it as an intermediate technology ...yet proven and with no real downside.

[not-fishing]

Costs three times as much.
Maybe lasts twice as long. (maybe not)
Has about 1/4 the capacity.
And they didn't even cover the fact that it fails when it is cold out.

Other than maybe the capacity all these points can also describe a Li-Poly.

[GearheadGrrrl]

Peterbuilt is offering a capacitor "battery" in Group 31 size as an option on their big diesel trucks, reputedly one can do the work of 3 to 4 lead acid conventional batteries.

[kevdog3019]

When I leave work at 1am, and the Stelvio is sitting outside where it is around 10F degrees. I would be stranded by one of those goofy batteries.
Or I can use a MUCH cheaper AGM, and go home.


Depends on your point of view. A coworker bought a used Prius. She had nothing but good things to say about it for about two years. Then she started to have issues with it, getting error code and it not running right. Turns out the battery was toast. $7000. That's a lot of gasoline.

You're good at pointing to exceptions. I could point to acid horror with AGM as well as going tits up from sitting too long but it's also an exception. If you really think they will develop a battery that won't work at 10 degrees you are living in your own fantasy land. LiFe batteries are fine at low temps IF you buy the proper size. Problem is...
I love when folks say "there's just no way..."
There are ways but some people have stuck their head in the sand. There will be some cool developments very soon I'm certain. There's big $$ in this technology and you gotta bet there are engineers working feverishly on it. There are vehicles waiting for it.

Oh... as for the 9 oz. jumper LiFe I have in my coat pocket to help anyone on the side of the road with...   

[jas67]

Depends on your point of view. A coworker bought a used Prius. She had nothing but good things to say about it for about two years. Then she started to have issues with it, getting error code and it not running right. Turns out the battery was toast. $7000. That's a lot of gasoline.

A co-worker of mine has 330k miles on the original batteries in his 2003 Prius.     It would be interesting to see the statistics on which is more likely the usual case.