Topic: Alcoa, Phinergy Show Aluminum-Air EV In Montreal

[Autos_Editor]

Aluminum-air battery could extend range by 1,600 kilometers, but there's a catch

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[redman]

This seems to be viable as a range extender from what I've read if not a full EV. Those listed figures are impressive and if viable would definitely change the view of E.V.'s

We've seen a lot of potential but few make it to market. I'm on the "show me the money" side and will believe it when and if it becomes available to joe public at a reasonable price.

[X-Traction]

It looks like this system uses aluminum as fuel.  It would be interesting to see how much energy is used to make the aluminum plates this system uses, and compare that to the performance of other electric cars.  It could be that aluminum is a much better way to store energy than hydrogen.

[Sir Osis of Liver]

Metal-air batteries have been around for a while. Ford was playing with zinc-air batteries at one point. The problems are they aren't rechargeable, the metal oxide waste has to be dealt with, and the plate replacement costs.

It's difficult to say how this technology will develop.

[rrocket]

I'm not opposed to this....but please tell me how much it costs to replace the aluminum plates and if the shape of the plate lends itself to a DIYer.

[tpl]

Does the battery produce enough power to keep the distilled water liquid in winter conditions?

[PJ]

I'm not opposed to this....but please tell me how much it costs to replace the aluminum plates and if the shape of the plate lends itself to a DIYer.

I'm wondering about the DIY aspect too.  I build stuff out of aluminum every day and can easily make scape aluminum sheet into any shape I want. 

[JohnM]

The idea is intriguing but the aluminum is being used as fuel and it takes a great deal of energy to create.  There was a project at Queen's on aluminum batteries 25 years ago.

What is the storage capacity in kWatt hrs of this battery assuming new water is added as required?  What are the emissions like if the aluminum is being broken down? What does the battery weight?

Maybe aluminum is a viable fuel - it certainly may be dense enough but we need far more details.

Cheers,
John M.

[aquadorhj]

How green is the production of aluminum?

can't be that green..   uses acid to extract aluminium chemically from mined rocks.

but after it's extracted, i suppose it is fairly clean.

[tpl]

How green is the production of aluminum?

can't be that green..   uses acid to extract aluminium chemically from mined rocks.

but after it's extracted, i suppose it is fairly clean.

Both the processes mentioned through the link look nasty.

http://www.elmhurst.edu/~chm/vchembook/327aluminum.html

The Bayer process looks a bit like a reverse of one way of making these aluminium batteries work....a bit.

[Blueprint]

The battery also need a new batch of distilled water every 300km, while the "old" water probably becomes special-treatment waste.

Pulling a generator on a trailer is probably as clean, if not cleaner...

[redman]

How green is the production of aluminum?

China is the largest producer of Aluminum


Energy required to produce/refine Aluminum seems to be extensive. http://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.cfm?id=7570