Getting a grip on Lithium-Ion
seanseamour on January 04 2008 at 4:46 pm | Filed under: Getting a grip on Lithium-Ion, Next Generation Batteries
From the sailor – laymen’ perspective Lithium Ion batteries are a dream come true. If it all checks out we can multiply our load capacity in the same allotted space while maintaining our waterline; we can run that horrible diesel a fraction of what we are accustomed to reload our battery banks, and even aspire to rid ourselves completely from the noisy smelly clunker with whom we maintain a symbiotic love hate relationship. But what of the echoes of a glaring side effects: they can short on occasion, in industry parlance initiate a “runaway thermal reaction”, again in layman’s terms a fire capable of burning its way right through the hull.
The noted events of laptop batteries catching fire that have cost companies like Sony a bundle are supposed to be a thing of the past, yet airlines are putting some restrictions on “how much extra power” we can take on board in the form of spare batteries – infinitesimal compared to what we need on board a sailing vessel. On the other hand we can see Li-Ion batteries going into similarly critical applications such as hybrid and electric automobiles, submarines and spacecraft.
In keeping with our crossover logic that implies that development in the hybrid automotive sector is ultimately good for sailboat propulsion retrofits, battery technology is the essential building block for our hybrid rolling and floating stock. In 2008 at least five manufacturers will be commercially launching a variety of Li-Ion batteries for automotive and industrial applications (more…)
