Mechanically refuelable zinc/air electric vehicle cells

Conference · Tue Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1992

OSTI ID:10170019

Noring, J; Gordon, S; Maimoni, A; Spragge, M; Cooper, J F

Refuelable zinc/air batteries have long been considered for motive as well as stationary power because of a combination of high specific energy, low initial cost, and the possibility of mechanical recharge by electrolyte exchange and additions of metallic zinc. In this context, advanced slurry batteries, stationary packed bed cells and batteries offering replaceable cassettes have been reported recently. The authors are developing self-feeding, particulate-zinc/air batteries for electric vehicle applications. Emissionless vehicle legislation in California motivated efforts to consider a new approach to providing an electric vehicle with long range (400 km), rapid refueling (10 minutes) and highway safe acceleration -- factors which define the essential functions of common automobiles. Such a electric vehicle would not compete with emerging secondary battery vehicles in specialized applications (commuting vehicles, delivery trucks). Rather, different markets would be sought where long range or rapid range extension are important. Examples are: taxis, continuous-duty fork-lift trucks and shuttle busses, and general purpose automobiles having modest acceleration capabilities. In the long range, a mature fleet would best use regional plants to efficiently recover zinc from battery reaction products. One option would be to use chemical/thermal reduction to recover the zinc. The work described in this report focuses on development of battery configurations which efficiently and completely consume zinc particles, without clogging or changing discharge characteristics.

• Research Organization: Lawrence Livermore National Lab., CA (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-48
• OSTI ID: 10170019
• Report Number(s): UCRL-JC--112422; CONF-930571--22; ON: DE93016446
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

25 ENERGY STORAGE
250904
33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS
330300
COST BENEFIT ANALYSIS
DESIGN
ELECTRIC-POWERED SYSTEMS
ELECTRIC-POWERED VEHICLES
ELECTROCHEMISTRY
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
MARKETING
MATERIALS RECOVERY
OTHER APPLICATIONS
USES
ZINC-AIR BATTERIES