Phinergy's hybrid lithium-ion / aluminium-air battery

[daniel Ox9EFD]

From reading around, Phinergy (Israeli company) are working on a hybrid lithium-ion / aluminium-air battery concept, where the first few miles will be on the lithium ion battery and then the aluminium-air battery will kick in, giving the car a range of 1100 miles. The catch is that it will need a water refill every few hundred miles and will need a replacement for the aluminium-ion battery every 'few months' / few thousand miles. I don't have all the exact details, but I did read they have a partnership with alcoa, and have a potential partnership with Renault-Nissan to provide batteries in 2017.

Renault-Nissan To Use Phinergy’s Aluminum-Air Battery - HybridCars.com

What do you think of their technology? will it work? will people buy it if it does?

 

[RobStark]

A lithium-ion battery pack with 200 miles of range for regular use plus an aluminum-air auxiliary battery for 500-1000 miles of additional range for when recharging is difficult or impossible that people replace every 1-3 years will work and be hot commodity.

Alcoa is pushing 40-50 miles of lithium ion range (which covers 80%+ of daily commutes) in order to sell more aluminum plates.

 

[hiroshiy]

According to the article, it can generate 8.1kWh of energy, half electricity and half heat. If we assume Leaf sized vehicle with 8km/1kWh power consumption, 1kg of AL will have 32km=20 miles and 4kWh waste heat.

Now with 1100 miles, that's 1100 / 20 = 55kg or 121 pounds.

You'll need a crane at AL replacement stand and the crane needs to be customized to each vehicle. Also you'll have 4kWh waste heat in your 20-mile commute. If that takes 30 minutes, you'll keep 8kW heater with your car.

I'm not sure this is promising or not...

 

[RobStark]

You'll need a crane at AL replacement stand and the crane needs to be customized to each vehicle. Also you'll have 4kWh waste heat in your 20-mile commute. If that takes 30 minutes, you'll keep 8kW heater with your car.

I'm not sure this is promising or not...

If there is not industry wide standardization I am sure there would be corporate customization.

You would get these exchanged at your local dealer or service center. Once ever 1-3 years would not be a PITA.

50% waste heat is still better than ICE and can be used to heat cabin.

I think these are a good idea on top of a ~200 mile range standard battery pack.