Mit Explores New Hybrid Car Battery Alternatives

By Author: Marty Vergel Baes
Total Articles: 423
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The ever-increasing prices of gasoline is one of the main reasons why car buyers are looking for other alternatives that could help them reduce the expenses on fuel used for their vehicles. Due to this, majority of the new car search conducted by almost every new car finder are focused on vehicles with impressive fuel economy or the best hybrid vehicles in the market. This trend at present eventually became one of the most popular goals by car buyers together with the continuous search for better auto loans and other forms of vehicle financing.

The increasing fuel cost also of gasoline also motivated car makers to produce hybrid cars that are equipped with electric motors and hybrid batteries that helps in improving fuel-economy of vehicles. However, hybrid vehicles are criticised for its price and heavy batteries that reduce its performance on the road. Due to this, a lot of studies were launched to develop lightweight batteries ...
... with similar or even better performance compared to the heavier version.

Due to this, a team of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) researches has also conducted their own study to produce lightweight yet effective batteries that could be used for hybrid cars. They launched a three-year project that would focus on the goal of inventing a prototype battery that could possibly be engineered and used as a replacement for batteries used in most hybrid cars. This project was launched in 2010.

After almost a year, the MIT researchers were able to invent a unique type of battery that is lightweight. Its prototype version uses the so-called “semi-solid flow” that allows the battery to store energy and at the same time discharge this when needed. As soon as this type of battery would be used on hybrid cars, this will eventually reduce their weight and improve their performance on the road.

Aside from this, the battery could possibly be refuelled just like changing the car’s oil. By doing this, the battery would function just like a brand new one. It only involves pumping the slurry liquid out and pumping-in fresher as well as fully recharged liquid replacement. Given this innovation, the project’s output might serve as the solution to most hybrid cars’ weight problems.