R & D * UK - Auto bodywork composite doubles as a battery
The future for the Hybrid car looks bright... and batteries are definitely included
London,UK -The Imperial College (PR), by Tannith Cattermole -February 7, 2010: -- The problem is clear. Hybrid cars and EVs rely on batteries for power, but batteries are bulky and heavy, causing the car to use up more energy. But what if a car's bodywork was made of a strong, lightweight material that could store and discharge electrical energy just as a conventional battery does?... Imperial College has been working on the idea as part of a €3.4 million 3 year European Union-funded project which includes researchers from a number of European partners, including automotive firm Volvo... The prototype material is a composite of carbon fibers and a polymer resin which can store and discharge large amounts of energy much faster than conventional batteries. Unlike these there is little degradation in the material over time because there is no chemical process involved, and this also aids more rapid recharging. It is lightweight and strong enough to make car body parts, and could be plugged into the household power supply for recharging... Researchers say the next stage is to further develop the composite in order to store more energy... (Photo courtesy of Imperial College London: The composite material releasing electrical energy to power a small light)
Labels: researchs
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home