“Sony has announced a new type of lithium ion rechargeable battery that combines high-power and long-life performance, using olivine-type lithium iron phosphate as the cathode material. The Olivine-type lithium iron phosphate used in this new battery is a perfect cathode material due to its robust crystal structure and stable performance, even at high temperatures. These bateries have a high power density of 1800W/kg, and [four times the] extended life span of [current Li-Ions, with] approximately 2,000 charge-discharge cycles. What’s most surprising is that the battery will keep an 80% charge retention after those 2,000 charge-discharge cycles, which is very impressive. This new battery is also able to charge rapidly (99% in 30 minutes).” These buckoes will debut in power tools originally, but they’ll eventually cross over to be smiling up at you from your cell phone, lappy, and other consumer electronics.
Looks like non drawbacks here… (patent licensing?)
I hope it gets soon in market them.
“Sony Makes New Li-Ions: Recharge in 30 Minutes, Catch Fire in 90 Minutes, Last Ages”
That’s awesome, they’ll still give off a charge while bursting into flames. Sounds like a perfect power source for a battery operated torch.
I tried one in my netbook, and I can attest that the craters left are at least 50% deeper! Go Sony!
No drawback? I’m not so sure. For one thing, the energy density seems a bit on the low side for a LiIon, 95Wh/kg vs 150-200 Wh/kg for a regular (according to Wikipedia). Assuming similar densities, the Volumetric energy density would be similarly disproportionate. The upshot is that battery life would be about half that of regular LiIons, per both weight and size.
Also, the article doesn’t indicate any sort of cost comparison. If these things are too much more expensive, it simply doesn’t make any sense.
I’m assuming there has to be some reason for this tech to go into power tools first, and my guess has to be form factor. Size and shape aren’t as critical for power tools as they would be in a cell phone.
When I first read it, I was very surprised that Sony wouldn’t be putting this into one of their products first.
Surely electric vehicles are the ‘killer app’ for quick-recharging batteries? Is there something about Li-Ion batteries that make them unsuitable for powering an electric vehicle? I hope Sony doesn’t kill the market with prohibitive licensing fees.
I think they should work out the kinks* in current Lithium-Ion batteries before making new technologies in them that could well have worse problems.
*By “kinks”, I mean that pesky little “explosive venting” problem.
These cells http://www.a123systems.com/products have been around for more than 2 years and pack more power due to their higher discharge rate.
They are widely used in model planes and helicopters.
The thing is, they should make cells with a rectangular section, as with regular LiPo, instead of round. This way, they’d increase the power density.
these are not interesting for “cell phone, lappy, and other consumer electronics” because they are low energy density, high amperage cells.
Normal high end li-ions are like 2900mah and 3A draw, whereas these sony cells are 1100mah and 20A draw. Which is why they are mentioned as being used in power tools and… nothing else
It will be interesting also to see how hard it draws from the outlet to make the 30 min charge, usually its pretty substantial and requires a large charging station (large for consumer use anyways) with heavy duty step up transformers to accomplish this.