Time Tested: New EV Battery Displays Remarkable Lifespan
When it comes to electric vehicles, critics have referred time and again to the fact that the death and replacement of batteries nullifies any savings made at the pump. With a battery’s limited lifespan, and battery prices still high, drivers may not be saving much. However, recent tests by battery provider Southern California Edison (SCE) show
Over the past two and a half years, SCE has been testing a lithium-ion battery sub-pack. And the results are incredible. The lithium-ion battery has displayed remarkable longevity, surviving 180, 000 miles with no significant deterioration. With the average family vehicle traveling less than 15,000 miles per year, this test holds great significance. This dramatic increase in the life expectancy of an EV battery pulls the cost equation more convincingly on the EV’s side.
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The battery, a Johnson Control-Saft lithium-ion battery subpack, was tested in a commercial delivery van in a laboratory setting at SCE’s Electric Vehicle Testing Center in Pomona, CA. The battery subpack is one sixth of the actual battery size used in a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle.
With such remarkable test results, and testing still in progress on the subpack, the U.S. Department of Energy has asked SCE to test the battery’s viability for passenger car performance. The Department of Energy supplied a full sized battery for further testing.
SCE is testing the battery in support of the Electric Power Research Institute’s (EPRI) evaluation of plug-in hybrid EVs.
Image Credit: saftbatteries.com
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June 5th, 2009 at 3:40 am
I’m really glad that SCE has been working on these batteries. I also hope that they are reliable and viable enough.
June 5th, 2009 at 6:02 am
This sounds promising, if it isn’t limited to slow charge rates.
June 6th, 2009 at 6:09 pm
Is it just me, or is their labeling misleading, idiotic, fraudulent or all of the above?
Are the packs 3.6V each or 4V, 12V & 22V respectively?
June 7th, 2009 at 3:37 am
MaxHedrm,
This explains the numbers. Apparently the 4, 12 and 22 are model numbers.
http://www.saftbatteries.com/Produit_Large_VLV_cell_range_301_64/Language/en-US/Default.aspx
June 8th, 2009 at 12:24 am
We interviewed Ed Kjaer, the guy behind SCE’s electric vehicle department and to see what they are doing with lithium batteries was impressive. We got to see their garage of the future that sported a solid rack of Saft lithium batteries used as a static storage facility, with the possibility of either charging your EV or uploading it to the grid. Fascinating and interesting folks working there.
The Electricnick.com team.
June 8th, 2009 at 2:57 am
Ahh … so just misleading & idiotic. :^) Silly marketing people.
June 17th, 2009 at 8:45 pm
[...] Even if the XJ and XE never hit the streets, the thought is there in the minds of auto makers. The technology is being developed. Steps are being taken toward an oil-free [...]