BYD battery to bring electric cars into mainstream

China¡¯s BYD Auto has devised a ferrous-ion electric-car battery it says is cheaper and greener than lithium-ion batteries, but the battery faces one serious obstacle ¨C it can¡¯t be charged in a household electric socket.
 
Ferrous ion is cheaper and more plentiful than the lithium ion traditionally used in electric car batteries. Warren Buffet¡¯s Berkshire Hathaway invested $230 million in BYD last year, on the assumption that the technology could bring electric cars into the mainstream market.
 
BYD¡¯s E6 sedan runs on a ferrous-ion battery ¨C it can travel 400km per charge, but is designed for 10-minute, 50% charges, that last 200km. Charging, however, requires a dedicated, high-voltage charging station.
 
According to the Vancouver Sun, the company is working on the problem with Chinese power companies, the government and large fleet owners, like taxi companies, hoping for a breakthrough in time for the end-2009 launch of the E6.
 
BYD hopes to launch the E6 in North America in 2011.
From: CleanTech

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