Toyota working on Zinc-air batteries for the next-next-gen hybrids
#1
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Nice vision Toyota has there. From reading Wikipedia this seems to be a pretty promising type of new batteries indeed. High-powered (comparable to Li-ion's) but CHEAP (zinc sells for $1/lb and air is...um...free
).![Thumb Up](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/thumbsup.gif)
http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/06/l...gen-batteries/
http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dl...maildailyANE02
Li-ion? Puhleeze. Toyota working on next-next-gen batteries
Much has been made of the fact that Toyota is seemingly behind General Motors and other manufacturers in the race to adopt lithium-ion batteries as the future battery of the hybrid and electric vehicle market. Lithium-ion batteries pack more energy into less space than nickel metal hydride batteries, which are the current industry standard in hybrids. Could this delay in the adoption of lithium ion technology be because they have something better up their corporate sleeves for the next-next Prius? According to reports from Japan, Toyota may be investing in zinc-air batteries, which are currently popular only in your grandpa's hearing-aid. If the rumors are true, these new batteries would make up a big chunk of Toyota's plan on offering a hybrid version of every car it sells by 2020. In the meantime, expect to see lithium-ion batteries in future Toyota hybrid models until it's ready to unveil its newest battery technology, whatever that may be.
Pic PS'd by autoblog I suppose![Big Grin](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
![](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/03/15_08_prius_opt.jpg)
Wiki's intro to Zinc-air batteries:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zinc-air_battery
![Big Grin](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
![Thumb Up](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/thumbsup.gif)
http://www.autoblog.com/2008/03/06/l...gen-batteries/
http://www.autonews.com/apps/pbcs.dl...maildailyANE02
Li-ion? Puhleeze. Toyota working on next-next-gen batteries
Much has been made of the fact that Toyota is seemingly behind General Motors and other manufacturers in the race to adopt lithium-ion batteries as the future battery of the hybrid and electric vehicle market. Lithium-ion batteries pack more energy into less space than nickel metal hydride batteries, which are the current industry standard in hybrids. Could this delay in the adoption of lithium ion technology be because they have something better up their corporate sleeves for the next-next Prius? According to reports from Japan, Toyota may be investing in zinc-air batteries, which are currently popular only in your grandpa's hearing-aid. If the rumors are true, these new batteries would make up a big chunk of Toyota's plan on offering a hybrid version of every car it sells by 2020. In the meantime, expect to see lithium-ion batteries in future Toyota hybrid models until it's ready to unveil its newest battery technology, whatever that may be.
Pic PS'd by autoblog I suppose
![Big Grin](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
![](http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2008/03/15_08_prius_opt.jpg)
Wiki's intro to Zinc-air batteries:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zinc-air_battery
Last edited by XeroK00L; 03-06-08 at 06:04 PM.
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Doesn't surprise me. Toyota is always thinking long-term, and they usually stay quiet and tight-lipped on any future product or technologies they have planned, unlike some of the competition like GM.
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I believe credit for first automaker actively participating in further application/development of zinc-air for vehicles fairly goes to
Mercedes Benz-Chrysler having teamed up with Electric Fuel division of Arotech in the year 2,000 in Germany and EF with GE in 1998 here on transit vehicle study. Actually appears R and D was funded in large part by the government of our own USA. I came across Electric Fuel doing research several years ago for something I was interested in developing, they make zinc-air battery packs and have for years.
I'm going out on a limb but I predict that zinc-air would be great for fleet maintained vehicles, transit systems, but not for Joe consumer in a sedan type vehicle.
http://www.electric-fuel.com/evpro/germany.shtml
http://www.electric-fuel.com/evpro/usa.shtml
http://www.electric-fuel.com/efbc.html
Mercedes Benz-Chrysler having teamed up with Electric Fuel division of Arotech in the year 2,000 in Germany and EF with GE in 1998 here on transit vehicle study. Actually appears R and D was funded in large part by the government of our own USA. I came across Electric Fuel doing research several years ago for something I was interested in developing, they make zinc-air battery packs and have for years.
I'm going out on a limb but I predict that zinc-air would be great for fleet maintained vehicles, transit systems, but not for Joe consumer in a sedan type vehicle.
http://www.electric-fuel.com/evpro/germany.shtml
http://www.electric-fuel.com/evpro/usa.shtml
http://www.electric-fuel.com/efbc.html
#6
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EDIT: Ah actually you're right. The fact that Zinc-air batteries aren't rechargeable directly through electricity will prevent it from use in a hybrid, where conventional fuel is used to refuel the car and is what makes hybrids popular in the first place. Well let's hope Toyota can surprise us once again.
Last edited by XeroK00L; 03-07-08 at 10:09 AM.
#7
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So if not rechargeable, what again, is the point of the article? ![Uhh...](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/1387914497.gif)
Maybe you can tow around your own zinc supply.![Stick Out Tongue](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/tongue.gif)
![Uhh...](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/1387914497.gif)
Maybe you can tow around your own zinc supply.
![Stick Out Tongue](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/tongue.gif)
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