BATTERY FUELED BY ZINC MAY POWER ELECTRIC AUTOMOBILES

A METAL-FUEL BATTERY, HIGH IN POWER AND LOW IN COSTS, WAS DEVELOPED BY THE SONY CORPORATION IN JAPAN. SONY RESEARCHERS ARE PROCEEDING WITH AN ELECTRIC-POWERED AUTO IN MIND. THE PROTOTYPE BATTERY IS BEING TESTED ON A SMALL CHASSIS. THE EXPERIMENTAL RIG WAS RUN AT SPEEDS UP TO 25 MPH. IT IS CLAIMED THAT A PRODUCTION VERSION WOULD COST LESS THAN 1% OF A CONVENTIONAL PLATINUM OR PALLADIUM HIGH-ENERGY BATTERY. HOWEVER, THE METAL-FUEL BATTERY PACKS IN ABOUT THREE TIMES AS MUCH ENERGY PER POUND AS LEAD-ACID OR NICKEL-CADMIUM BATTERIES. THIS BATTERY USES FINELY PULVERIZED ZINC FOR FUEL. ELECTRICITY IS GENERATED BY CONTINUOUSLY FEEDING THE ZINC, MIXED WITH AN ELECTROLYTE, INTO THE CELLS. WHEN DISCHARGED, THE MATERIAL IS SEPARATED AND REUSABLE. A SMALL AMOUNT OF SILVER IS USED FOR THE AIR ELECTRODES. BECAUSE THE FUEL CAN BE RECOVERED EASILY, FUEL COST IS 5% OR LESS THAN THAT FOR HYDROZINE-FUEL BATTERIES.

  • Supplemental Notes:
    • Vol 41, No 11, P 18, 1 PHOT
  • Publication Date: 1970-5

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  • Accession Number: 00216984
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Files: TRIS
  • Created Date: Jul 21 1970 12:00AM