Many lithium batteries, particularly in the mobile space, use graphite as an anode but this has limited capacity.
FORBES: Two New Lithium Discoveries Make The Renewable Energy Economy Just That Much Closer
But lithium batteries weigh less, store more energy and recharge faster than conventional batteries, making them attractive to airlines.
Boeing is using the lithium batteries to electronically assist some of the functions that were previously performed using hydraulics.
The best these portable fuel cells can perform is about as well as the lithium batteries they're meant to supplant.
The batteries in question are lithium batteries manufactured by Japan's GS Yuasa, under a subcontract to France-based Thales, Boeing said.
Likewise, many of the latest innovations in zero-emission vehicles, such as advanced lithium batteries, are also coming from these non-traditional players.
"Wall Street is every entrepreneur's dream, " says Kit Tsui, chief executive of Shenzhen-based Industries International, a maker of telephones and lithium batteries.
Wrapping silicon controls and lithium batteries around oil-powered engines is a winner.
Although lithium batteries heat up quickly because of their structure, they have systems and circuits in place to prevent overheating, Nishijima said.
It added that A350 test flights would continue with the lithium batteries.
There is no need to drain lithium batteries fully before recharging, meaning less maintenance, though they are subject to catch fire if overcharged.
Lithium batteries are lightweight and hold more than twice as much energy as older nickel cadmium batteries, though they also cost about 40% more.
Power for the motors is stored in 138, 3.3v 180ah China Aviation Lithium Batteries (CALB) in two "hot swap" battery packs each containing 69 cells.
ENGADGET: SRI EV1 brings all-electric racing to the Mexican 1000 rally (video)
Osaka Gas has already grabbed a big share of the world market for parts used in rechargeable lithium batteries, which are used in mobile phones.
ECONOMIST: Japan's best engineers are having to learn about business
In another set of tests last year, the FAA caused lithium batteries in a laptop computer to ignite in the cockpit of a Boeing 737 jet.
Today, lithium batteries are the preferred power packs for an array of widely used consumer products, from laptops and tablets to cellular phones and portable drills.
Airbus plans to use bigger lithium batteries on its new A350 model, now in development, but those cells still will be smaller than those aboard the Dreamliner.
Lithium batteries are also commonly used in other planes, but these are much smaller batteries, running much more minor things such as a small set of lights.
True, the technology costs more up front, but as volumes increase all signs point to a steady decrease in the price of lithium batteries and related hardware.
The new lithium batteries for e-bike transportation might not stand much chance against such overwhelming statistics, unless all those new generations of coming vehicles are to be sustainably-produced, e.g.
It has long been known that lithium batteries are more susceptible than conventional nickel-cadmium batteries to extreme, uncontrolled temperature increases and fires that are very different to put out.
Lithium batteries are much more likely to experience uncontrolled high temperatures that can lead to fires if they are damaged, exposed to excessive heat, overcharged or have manufacturing flaws.
Toyota is still going ahead with plans for a small urban electric car for 2012, likely powered by lithium batteries made by Panasonic, its joint venture partner in Japan.
The 787, whose first commercial flights occurred in the fall of 2011, employs lightweight materials to reduce fuel usage, but also requires the high-power lithium batteries, which have caused fires aboard aircraft in the past.
But the more functions cell phone manufacturers add, the greater the amount of power the phones use and the less practical running them on lithium batteries becomes -- so the race to find a viable alternative is on.
Lenovos and lithium batteries are.
FORBES: The China Chill Factor: Growth Potential Now Borders 'Hard Landing'
In a recent example of government policy being a drag on stocks, Beijing imposed restrictions on rare earth exports in an attempt to keep the materials close to home as China tries to establish itself as the go-to nation for the key ingredients used in making everything from lithium batteries to iPods.
FORBES: For Sinfionetta Hedge Fund, Baidu And Sina Too Dependent On Beijing
Meanwhile, as Boeing scrambles to find a quick fix and keep its customers happy, one of its biggest competitors is working to make sure its own planes are kept in the air: A spokesman for Airbus, which uses similar lithium-ion batteries in its A350 wide body jet, told the Reuters news service that the company is considering dropping Lithium-ion batteries and switching back to traditional nickel-cadmium power units.
FORBES: Boeing Delays Dreamliner Deliveries As Battery Problems Get Worse
Johnson Controls is positioning itself to be a technology leader in hybrid car batteries as the industry shifts to lithium ion batteries from nickel metal hydride batteries used in today's hybrids.
应用推荐