Everyone in the “know” says that cars of the future will be powered by fuel cells. But they also say we’ll have to wait until 2015 before we can expect them in mass production quantities. In the meantime, car makers and battery manufacturers are working at a fever pitch to build bigger batteries for Hybrid cars.
Well, bigger batteries may not be the right term. Because when you talk about battery size, you really have to think in terms of battery “density.” Battery density can refer to the amount of power per pound, or power per cubic inch. Either way, you can expect battery density to increase dramatically in the coming years. How do we know?
First, there’s the amount of money being spent on research by the U.S. Government. In 2008 alone, the U.S Department of Energy funded $235 million in research at 19 National and Federal laboratories and 58 U.S. Colleges and Universities. The 2009 Stimulus Bill devotes nearly $2 billion to battery storage research. The research grants come with many strings, one of which is battery life. The goal is to produce a hybrid battery with an average life of 15 years. Currently, battery warranties range from 8 to 10 years.
Next is the commitment by automakers and automotive suppliers. In June, 2009, in the midst of bankruptcy proceedings GM opened a $25 million dollar research facility called the Global Battery Systems Laboratory, at the Warren Technical Center campus outside Detroit, MI. And all three U.S. automakers collaborate on future technology issues under the umbrella of the U.S. Council for Automotive Research.
All automakers know that they’re in a race for their very survival—a race that centers on battery technology.