EU consortium to develop greener batteries for EVs

Date: 4/3/2011

Electric vehicles (EVs) could soon have more environmentally-friendly batteries that are increasingly powerful following the launch of a new group.

A new European research consortium called SOMABAT wants to create better-performing lithium polymer batteries for EVs.

Unusual recyclable solid materials will be developed to be used as cathodes, anodes and solid polymer electrolytes.

It is hoped that the energy density of the batteries will receive a 30 per cent boost when compared to conventional anodes that are carbon based.

The consortium's members also want to be able to create a greener EV battery of which half can be recycled.

Synthetic carbon-based anodes will be developed by the Kiev National University of Technologies Design, ITE and the Universite de Liege.

Consultant Accenture stated in its 2009 Betting on Science: Disruptive Technologies in Transport Fuels report that plug-in EVs were a "game changer" for transport being electrified.

Indeed, the manufacturing industry is under pressure to find an alternative fuel to oil as demand for the commodity increases, it said.

Posted by Nick Anderson