Category Archives: Environment

Those Clever Chinese

Those Clever Chinese

BYD has unveiled a new hybrid EV design that will allow cars to travel more than 1,200 miles without recharging or refueling. The Chinese-based company plans to launch two new sedans using the new powertrain, which will further the distance between BYD and other EV manufacturers like Volkswagen and Toyota.

What’s even more impressive about BYD’s latest powertrain design is that it will debut the tech in two sedans set to cost under 100,000 yuan (roughly $14,000). That will make these long-range hybrid vehicles some of the most affordable plug-in electric cars on the market. BYD hasn’t shard exact details on the two new vehicles but should soon.

This longer range means that the new hybrid EV will be able to drive from Miami to New York on a single charge and a full tank of gas. That’s an insane distance to be able to travel without needing to stop to fuel up. This, of course, isn’t the first time BYD has upended the Chinese auto market with huge price cuts.

7-Eleven 7Charge EV charging network© Provided by BGR

The company sold three million cars last year, according to The Business Times, with almost one million sold this year alone. Those are big numbers, and this new powertrain is likely only going to increase the amount of BYD cars driving off the lot going forward.

Global automotive manufacturers continue to try to find ways to push adoption of hybrid and electric vehicles in an attempt to cut down on the amount of fossil fuels needed to power the millions of cars found on the street every year. This new hybrid EV has the potential to turn more towards the EV side of the market.

The Future of Driving Is Here: E-Fuels vs. EVs

The Future of Driving Is Here: E-Fuels vs. EVs

Story by José Bossellini

Internal combustion engines, as we know them, maybe are nearing the end of their reign. While they may not completely disappear within the next five to ten years, their use will likely be limited to specific niches.

The automotive industry is transitioning towards electrification, but there’s another promising technology on the horizon: e-fuels. These synthetic fuels offer a potential alternative to battery-powered electric vehicles (EVs).

Porsche, a pioneer in the automotive industry, is actively involved in the development of e-fuels. Karl Dums, responsible for this area at Porsche, recognizes the importance of e-fuels as a way to extend the life of internal combustion engines, particularly for iconic models like the 911.

E-fuels are produced using green hydrogen and carbon dioxide extracted from the air. This process allows for the creation of a synthetic gasoline that can be used in existing internal combustion engines without modifications. E-fuels offer a way to reduce emissions while preserving the driving experience associated with traditional gasoline-powered vehicles.

Source: Porsche US.

While electrification is poised to dominate the automotive landscape, e-fuels provide a valuable option for those who want to continue enjoying the thrill of internal combustion engines. The combination of EVs and e-fuels could ensure a more sustainable future for the automotive industry.

In1963 the price of crude oil was $30, as of 20 Sep 2024 it was $72. The price of gas (in Arkansas) was $.30 per gal in 1963 and on Sep 30th, 2024 it was $3.00. So most of the inflation in the price at the pump is due to refining and transportation. Despite that our inflation adjusted fuel cost is comparable to what it was in 1963. The real issue is that we have failed to consider the actual cost of maintaining roads infrastructure and have not taxed fuel enough. As our roads continue to deteriorate our short-term thinking has come to haunt us.

Sodium Battery Update

Sodium Battery Update

Researchers at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) have developed a high-power hybrid sodium-ion battery that can be charged in seconds. 

Sodium is considered nearly 1000 times more abundant than lithium. Therefore, sodium-ion electrochemical energy storage devices are more appealing than traditional lithium-ion electrochemical energy storage.

Led by Professor Jeung Ku Kang from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, the research team integrated anode materials typically used in batteries with cathodes suitable for supercapacitors.

The combination helped the battery to achieve high storage capacities and rapid charge-discharge rates. The study indicates that the battery can be a viable next-generation alternative to lithium-ion batteries.                                                                                    

Hybrid sodium-ion energy storage device

Comprising the newly developed anode and cathode, the assembled full cell forms a high-performance hybrid sodium-ion energy storage device, which crosses the energy density of commercial lithium-ion batteries available in the market. According to researchers, the device exhibits the characteristics of supercapacitors’ power density.

“The development of a hybrid battery with high energy and high power density requires an improvement to the slow energy storage rate of battery-type anodes as well as the enhancement of the relatively low capacity of supercapacitor-type cathode materials,” said the team in a statement.                                                                                                                                                        

Sodium batteries can fulfill an increasing demand

Salt batteries: https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/technology/scientists-make-breakthrough-in-production-of-salt-based-battery-technology-this-process-makes-it-easier/ar-AA1nF2YR?ocid=msedgntp&pc=U531&cvid=f94d02a42bd34c7dab303c7464fd9352&ei=15

The battery may fulfill an increasing demand for low-cost electrochemical energy storage devices with high energy density for prolonged operation on a single charge and fast-chargeable power density to meet a wide range of applications ranging from mobile electronic devices through electric vehicles (EVs) to large-scale grid systems.

Currently, available Sodium-ion energy storage systems are poor in rechargeability as they have a low power density while providing a relatively high energy density. Currently, two types of sodium storage systems are available, sodium-ion batteries (SIBs) and sodium-ion capacitors (SICs). Therefore, researchers focused on sodium-ion hybrid energy storage (SIHES) cells. 

SIHES can use the different potential windows of capacitor-type cathodes and battery-type anodes. It has attracted a lot of attention because this storage system, in principle, could simultaneously allow high energy density and fast-rechargeable power density.

According to researchers, the SIHES can achieve an energy density of 247 Wh/kg and a power density of 34,748 W/kg. Professor Kang said that the research represents a breakthrough in overcoming the current limitations of energy storage systems. He anticipates broader applications across various electronic devices, including electric vehicles.

It’s likely to be useful for rapid charging applications ranging from electric vehicles to smart electronic devices and aerospace technologies.

Co-authored by KAIST doctoral candidates Jong Hui Choi and Dong Won Kim, the study was published in the journal Energy Storage Materials.

Story by Adrien BERNARD

A significant advancement in battery technology could soon revolutionize smartphone and electric vehicle technologies. Researchers have developed a new sodium-based battery capable of recharging in seconds, providing a promising alternative to current lithium-ion batteries.

🔋 This battery recharges in seconds: the revolution for smartphones and electric vehicles?© Provided by Techno-Science

Sodium batteries aren’t new and have historically had many drawbacks. Scientists have combined materials for anodes from conventional batteries with cathodes from supercapacitors, creating a new type of sodium-ion battery distinguished by high capacity and rapid recharge capabilities.

Sodium, being far more abundant than lithium, makes these new batteries potentially less expensive and more sustainable. However, previous sodium-ion batteries had lower performance in terms of power and energy storage capacity compared to lithium-ion batteries and required longer charging times, limiting their applications.

In this new study, researchers aimed to overcome these shortcomings. They developed an innovative type of anode with ultrafine iron sulfide particles integrated within sulfur-doped carbon and graphene, thereby enhancing conductivity and energy storage. For the cathode, they used a “zeolitic imidazolate framework” (ZIF), a porous crystalline structure that combines metallic ions with organic molecules, thus improving the battery’s charge and discharge speed.

The complete prototype achieved an energy storage capacity of 247 watt-hours per kilogram (Wh/kg) and could deliver power up to 34,748 watts per kilogram (W/kg), far surpassing existing technology. Additionally, the battery maintained its efficiency and performance over more than 5,000 charge and discharge cycles, suggesting enhanced longevity critical for applications such as energy storage on the electrical grid and electric vehicles.

Source: Energy Storage Materials