You're out riding your new electric motorcycle and the battery is getting low. No problem, just pull over and fill 'er up. That's the hope of researchers working on an improved redox flow battery.
Electric motorcycles, like electric cars, are just beginning to appear for sale as serious, if somewhat expensive, alternatives to your regular ICE powered vehicle. They're almost like having a regular engine, we're assured, but whenever the subject of range and recharge time comes up we hear a lot of talk about average driving distances for most people, which is another way of saying you can't go very far and recharges take a long time.
OK, so what's this redox flow battery?
The principle of redox flow batteries is not new – two fluid electrolytes containing metal ions flow through porous graphite felt electrodes, separated by a membrane which allows protons to pass through it. During this exchange of charge a current flows over the electrodes, which can be used by a battery powered device.
Sounds great, so what's the problem? Redox flow batteries store about a quarter of the energy of lithium ion batteries, currently the battery of choice for commercially available electric vehicles. At that rate, you would be filling up constantly, but researchers have developed an improved version with a range of 4 to 5 times previous versions, matching lithium ion capacities.
These batteries are recharged by pumping out and refilling the electrolyte. The electrolyte fluid could be pumped out and refilled at the "gas" station in minutes, the discharged electrolyte could then be recharged at the station and reused in other vehicles.
The battery is still in prototype form so it won't be appearing soon, and it is not much better than the current Lithium Ion system, but this is a direction very likely to appeal to everyone used to quick fillups on the road. If the capacity can be improved even more, they could be on to something. Interesting.
Link: Fraunhofer via FuturePundit
Kickboxer Subaru WRX Powered Motorcycle Concept
{ 13 comments… add yours below ... }
i guess the advantage of this comparing to replacing a block of li-ion is that trucks and motorcycle don’t need a separate size of the batteries. i’d still fill more comfortable working with a bunch of blocks or gel rather then have spills of toxic liquid.
Gasoline is a toxic liquid, albeit a different type of toxic liquid…so, we design a different fill mechanism.
If they can match half my scooter’s tank range (~150 miles) and all of it’s top speed (~65) then I’m on board for commuting; blasting is a frame of mind.
On the other hand I won’t relinquish my favorite ICE bikes until they pry them from my cold stiff fingers.
The big stumbling block to electric vehicles is the fatal combination of short range and long recharge time. I’d go Seth one further and say that 100-mile range would be good enough at 65 mph. People need to get out of their cars or off their bikes every hour or so, just to keep stretched and alert. 100 miles of travel would be 1.5-2 hours, and if a fillup of electrolyte was as quick as a fillup of gasoline, then why not? I think these things would sell like Big Macs.
What’s the connection with the R/C model image?
“What’s the connection with the R/C model image?”
mxs, the model car is powered by a small prototype of the redox battery, follow the link to Fraunhofer and they mention it.
Pretty interesting. I guess we’ll just have to wait and see where it goes.
Let’s all ride nuclear-powered bikes ! Unlimited range, everlasting fuel … and none of us will have kids, after riding with a radiation machine between our legs … lol
My only concern when I ride is “smiles per gallon” and the sound of my pipes and motor is a big part of that. I simply would never own an electric motorcycle. It has zero appeal to me.
100 years ago tons of people were trying to crack the secret to powered flight. when the Wright brothers finally decoded “the wing”, the field exploded. 60 years later, we were on the moon. maybe i’m making too much of it, maybe i’m being optimistic, but to me, this looks like “the wing”. if pursued, this just MIGHT be the answer we’ve been looking for. a small part of me really hopes not though. . . i love – LOVE – the Otto cycle. keep moving forward though, right?
I’ll seriously consider an EV cage when a few manufacturers have serious models on the market for a few years and the early adopters can report on the experience. By serious I don’t mean some 3 wheeler by a fly-by-night manufacturer that doesn’t meet any vehicle safety standards.
As far as an e-MC, most likely never, as the aural and mechanical aspects of an ICE are a large part of the pleasure in riding. In the past I’ve looked at scooters for around town and decided they offer nothing over a bicycle and the bike also gives me some exercise.
Christopher, what answer are we looking for? There were 200 major oil deposit finds this year alone (over 1 trillion barrels) and the earth is in a cooling period.
when i said “the answer we’re looking for” i wasn’t referring to anything relative to global warming. i too am aware of the new oil finds. however, new oil or not, one day it WILL run out. may as well be prepared right? i didn’t mean to imply in my previous post that “the answer” needed to go to market tomorrow. but i do think it’s foolish not to pursue alternative means to power our transportation devices. i’d like to see the ICE last as long as possible. i’ll be one of the last hangers on to “old technology” whenever it comes to that. i suppose i was more trying to say that it now looks certain (to me) that electric will be the next step as opposed to hydrogen/alt fuels/etc.
The Kneeslider does not endorse nor imply agreement with any particular comment just because we let it stand, but, you already knew that.
Comments should be closely related to post content. Personal attacks, personal grievances and profanity will be removed. Please read the entire post and check for included links before commenting or asking questions. We're looking for your interesting thoughts and ideas that add to the conversation. Thank you.