Critics of lithium-ion batteries (and there
are many) have plenty of arguements in their corner. These batteries run
hot – hot enough to cause the occasional fire.
They take a long time to recharge. They are expensive and have a
limited life cycle. When they are used up, they become potentially
hazardous waste. Is this really what the world wants to depend on for
its transportation needs?
The folks at Japan Power Plus don’t think so.
They have just announced the all new Ryden battery, which is made
primarily from cotton. Yes, you read that right, the fabric of our lives
has become a battery. Ryden in Japanese translates into “god of
lightning.” For the new battery, cotton fibers are modified to create a
new form of carbon fiber unlike any ever seen before, according to Chris
Craney, JPP’s chief marketing officer. The modified cotton forms the
anode and cathode of the Ryden battery an organic fluid is used as an
electrolyte.
Why is this a big deal?
Several reasons. The Ryden battery recharges
20X faster than its lithium based cousins. It lasts through many
thousands of discharge cycles. It does not run at high temperatures, so
no cooling system is required. All its components are organic and
recyclable. Most importantly of all though, it should be cheaper than
lithium-ion batteries once full-scale production begins.
And when will that be? Well, the
basic research dates back to the 1970′s, and JPP has been working on the
project for more than 6 years. So the Ryden battery won’t be on the
shelves at your local auto parts store anytime soon. But if the folks at
JPP are right, their cotton battery could do for electric vehicles what
gasoline did for the auto industry.
If you missed out on Apple or Microsoft, this
might be a good time to pick up a few shares of JPP, before everyone
else finds out.
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