I know I’m one to put my phone on the charger all night even though I tell other people not to do it. lol. I forget sometimes…mosttimes…ok, everytime!

You don’t get something for nothing!

There are technologies available now that could have a major impact on improving both the performance and safety of lithium cells. Indeed, there is technology available now that would at minimum virtually solve the safety problem. Trouble is most of the current investment in batteries is in the Far East – China and Japan – not the United States. So while the United States is a leader in technological innovation for batteries, the commercialization of these technologies is slow because of the battery industry structure.

Now we have indications early 2008 of a new world oil price / supply crisis providing more evidence that safe batteries of sufficient power and capacity for electric vehicles – HEV and EV – is needed urgently. But existing lithium technology, that is conventional Li-ion cells, is a zero tolerance technology. Without US led innovation hand-in-hand with investment in these batteries we have a significant problem the resolution for which is unclear.

TRU Group Inc – Lithium Consultants
trugroup.com

And still I expect we won’t see this tech until around 2011 (seriously).

As far as the cost of the new tech, it stands to reason that the new batteries will cost a bit more. The new tech will require “one or two different steps” but once manufacturing ramps up and economies of scale come into play, the cost increase should be reasonable.

I obviously didnt mean that the new battery will cost $2 more – but it WILL cost more. I’d happily pay 30-50% more in battery costs in exchange for a 10 fold increase in capacity.