NEAR-TERM BATTERIES FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES

Major progress has been achieved in the lead-acid, nickel/iron and nickel/zinc battery technology development since the initiation of the Near-Term eV Battery Project in 1978. Against the specific energy goal of 56 wh/kg the demonstrated specific energies are 41 wh/kg for the improved lead-acid batteries, 48 wh/kg for the improved nickel/iron batteries, and 68 wh/kg for the improved nickel/zinc batteries. These specific energy values would allow an ETV-1 vehicle to have an urban range of 80 miles in the case of the improved lead-acid batteries, 96 miles for the improved nickel/zinc batteries, and 138 miles for the improved lead-acid batteries. All represent a significant improvement over the state-of-the-art lead-acid battery capability of about 30 wh/kg with approximately a 51 mile urban range for the ETV-1 vehicle. The project goal for specific power of 104 w/kg for 30 seconds at a 50% depth of discharge has been achieved for all of the technologies with the improved lead-acid demonstrating 111 w/kg, the improved nickel/iron demonstrating 103 w/kg, and the improved nickel/zinc demonstrating 131 w/kg. Again this is a significant improvement over the state-of-the-art lead-acid battery capability of 70 w/kg. Substantial progress has been made against the life cycle goal of 800 cycles as evidenced by the demonstrated lead-acid battery achievement of > 295 cycles in ongoing tests, the nickel/iron demonstrated capability of > 515 cycles in ongoing tests, and the nickel/zinc demonstrated capability of 179 cycles. Except for the nickel/zinc batteries, the demonstrated cycle life is better than the state-of-the-art lead-acid battery cycle life of about 250 cycles. Future program emphases will be on improving cycle life and further reductions in cost. (ERA citation 81:025586)

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Energy Technology Conference and Exposition, Washington, DC, 9 March 1981.
• Corporate Authors:

  Argonne National Laboratory

  9700 South Cass Avenue
  Argonne, IL  United States  60439

  Department of Energy

  1000 Independence Avenue, SW
  Washington, DC  United States  20585
• Authors:
  • Christianson, C C
  • Yao, N P
  • Hornstra, F
• Publication Date: 1981

Media Info

• Pagination: 9 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Costs; Development; Electric batteries; Electric vehicles; Iron; Lead (Metal); Lead acid batteries; Nickel; Nickel iron batteries; Nickel zinc batteries; Performance; Research; Research projects; Service life; Urban areas; Vehicle range; Zinc
• Uncontrolled Terms: Research and development; Research programs
• Old TRIS Terms: Iron-nickel batteries
• Subject Areas: Design; Energy; Finance; Highways; Research; Vehicles and Equipment; I91: Vehicle Design and Safety;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00343875
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Report/Paper Numbers: CONF-810315-13
• Contract Numbers: W-31-109-ENG-38
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Nov 23 1982 12:00AM