The aluminum-air battery for electric vehicles - An update

Journal Article · Sat Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 1980 · Energy Technol. Rev.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5938636

The development of aluminum-air batteries as mechanically rechargeable power sources to be used in electric vehicles is discussed. The chemistry of the aluminum-air battery, which has a potential for providing the range, acceleration and rapid refueling capability of contemporary automobiles and is based on the reaction of aluminum metal with atmospheric oxygen in the presence of an aqueous sodium hydroxide/sodium aluminate electrolyte, is examined, and it is pointed out that the electric vehicle would be practically emissionless. The battery development program at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, which includes evaluations of electrochemical and chemical phenomena, studies of the economics and energy balance of a transportation system based on aluminum, and power cell design and performance analysis, is presented. It is concluded that although difficult problems must be overcome before the technical and economic feasibility of aluminum-air batteries for electric vehicles can be established, projections indicate that the aluminum-air vehicle is potentially competitive with internal combustion vehicles powered by synthetic liquid fuels.

• OSTI ID: 5938636
• Journal Information: Energy Technol. Rev.; (United States), Journal Name: Energy Technol. Rev.; (United States)
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

33 ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS
25 ENERGY STORAGE
ALUMINIUM-AIR BATTERIES
DESIGN
PERFORMANCE
ELECTRIC-POWERED VEHICLES
AUTOMOBILES
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
EFFICIENCY
ELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS
ELECTROCHEMISTRY
POWER SUPPLIES
CHEMISTRY
ECONOMICS
ELECTRIC BATTERIES
ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT
EQUIPMENT
METAL-GAS BATTERIES
VEHICLES
330300* - Advanced Propulsion Systems- Electric-Powered Systems
250902 - Energy Storage- Batteries- Performance & Testing