The Coming Age of Electric Vehicles

by Kenneth C. Hoffman



Used for plating cheap jewelry, the battery cell was known in Egypt in 250 A.D. The basis for the common lead acid battery found in most cars was discovered by Volta in the seventeenth century. Electric automobiles were common in the early nineteen hundreds but they could never match the power and distances covered by internal combustion engines.


The main problem with inventing a practical electric car was the weight of the batteries. Powerful but heavy electric motors were available but relatively short distances on a charge marred their usefulness. One advantage of an all electric vehicle aside from its quietness and independence from transmissions is its zero emissions.


Ever since then, more powerful and lighter rechargeable batteries were high on the list to be invented. Early radios used wet cells to power their filaments and primitive dry cells to activate their circuits. The common carbon zinc flashlight batteries were much lighter than lead acid wet cells, but were sadly weak in the power department. Alkaline batteries improved their performance four fold but similarly could not be recharged.


The nickel cadmium batteries could be recharged but lacked the high drain power required by an electric motor. Recent advances in nickel metal hydride batteries were found sufficiently long lasting for use in high drain electronics, laptops and cameras but still were not what was needed for a practical electric vehicle.


The most recent advances in battery technology involve the use of lithium and various chemicals such as titanium, disulfide and manganese. These Li-Ion batteries are fully charged in an hour, are half the weight of NiMH batteries and have plenty of power. One company in Berkley, CA has patented a Lithium Sulfur battery that boasts a voltage of 2.1V, an amperage rating of 400 Watt hours, a weight one quarter of a NiMH battery and a charge time of only five minutes. Hello, electric car of the future!


About the Author: A retired portrait and wedding photographer, I enjoy writing , how to articles, helpful articles on photography and many other subjects. My hobbies include quartet singing, shop, bicycling and photography. Please visit my web site at http://www.photoartbyken.com
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