CA built Tesla Model S is 2nd best selling luxury car in the nation.

[Sava]

I'd have to disagree that owning a luxury car makes someone a douchebag.

They were probably douchebags long before they bought the car.

[Dinner]

http://jes.ecsdl.org/content/159/2/R1

Abstract:

Lithium/air batteries, based on their high theoretical specific energy, are an extremely attractive technology for electrical energy storage that could make long-range electric vehicles widely affordable. However, the impact of this technology has so far fallen short of its potential due to several daunting challenges. In nonaqueous Li/air cells, reversible chemistry with a high current efficiency over several cycles has not yet been established, and the deposition of an electrically resistive discharge product appears to limit the capacity. Aqueous cells require water-stable lithium-protection membranes that tend to be thick, heavy, and highly resistive. Both types of cell suffer from poor oxygen redox kinetics at the positive electrode and deleterious volume and morphology changes at the negative electrode. Closed Li/air systems that include oxygen storage are much larger and heavier than open systems, but so far oxygen- and OH−-selective membranes are not effective in preventing contamination of cells. In this review we discuss the most critical challenges to developing robust, high-energy Li/air batteries and suggest future research directions to understand and overcome these challenges. We predict that Li/air batteries will primarily remain a research topic for the next several years. However, if the fundamental challenges can be met, the Li/air battery has the potential to significantly surpass the energy storage capability of today's Li-ion batteries.

There have been working examples since the 1970's and in the 00's it got a lot more attention from big electronics makers. Sure, it will still take a few years to perfect but they have been around for 40 years so they're hardly brand new. IBM seems very confident.

[Asher]

Dude. You're delusional.

They're nowhere close to perfection. The word used by experts everywhere if you even choose to google this is "infancy".

IBM is confident because they are a public company whose stock value reflects perceived future income. Every company is confident they're on the right track, until they fail.

They have NOT been around for 40 years. In fact, they have not EVER BEEN AROUND. Name one successful application of li-air batteries in an automobile. Hell, name one in any kind of real-world product.

[Dinner]

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-02-21/lithium-air-battery-gives-ibm-hope-of-power-without-fires.html

IBM says they will be producing prototype models of lithium air batteries next year. They admit it is a high risk, high reward project though. Tesla kind of has the best of both worlds as the two leaders in that tech are IBM and Toyota and Tesla has tech sharing agreements with both of them.

[regexcellent]

I will believe electric cars are successful when they are being profitably sold outside the niche uber-wealthy environmentalist market.

[Dinner]

Because the single largest car market in the country is niche, right?

[Sava]

rich guys is the single largest car market?

dafuq?

[-Jrabbit]

Owning a luxury car doesn't make you a douchebag (I am buying a Lexus this year).

As if the parenthetical proves the statement? Wow.

[regexcellent]

Asher's not a good counterexample here

Because the single largest car market in the country is niche, right?

Uh...I'd put a lot of money down on the single largest market being something like compact sedans or pickup trucks, not luxury sports cars.

[Asher]

As if the parenthetical proves the statement? Wow.

Indeed it does.

[The Mad Monk]

Did they ever fix the full discharge = car is frozen and battery is destroyed problem?

[Dinner]

Asher's not a good counterexample here



Uh...I'd put a lot of money down on the single largest market being something like compact sedans or pickup trucks, not luxury sports cars.

I'm talking about California, you know, that largest car market in the country which just so happens to be the place where about half of all Tesla's are being sold right now. Supposedly, if you believe the article I linked to above, tech guys in Silicon Valley are going so bonkers over them it isn't unusual to pull up to a red light and have two of the Model Ss also waiting at the light. I've seen a couple of them down here too so they're certainly the in thing with certain tech orientated people.

[Dinner]

Did they ever fix the full discharge = car is frozen and battery is destroyed problem?

I never heard about that, link?

[Sava]

I'm talking about California, you know, that largest car market in the country which just so happens to be the place where about half of all Tesla's are being sold right now. Supposedly, if you believe the article I linked to above, tech guys in Silicon Valley are going so bonkers over them it isn't unusual to pull up to a red light and have two of the Model Ss also waiting at the light. I've seen a couple of them down here too so they're certainly the in thing with certain tech orientated people.

Not only is it a niche market... it's a regional niche market.

[Asher]

I never heard about that, link?

I'd not heard about that yet, but I have heard that Li-Air batteries are limited to "a few" charge/discharge cycles. The kind of stuff they may put in the fine print next to its awesome energy capacity.