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How Long Will Your Electric Car Battery Last? Science Is On The Case

Green Car Reports -- We all know that battery packs are the biggest Achilles Heel of the electric car, which is why automakers like Nissan and General Motors are working hard to improve the energy density, cost and lifespan of electric vehicle batteries.

But once you've designed a new battery pack, how do you prove its lifespan without waiting year and years?

You’d think that some complex math, along with some basic scientific theory would answer the problem, but life is rarely as predictable as a science lab.

Instead, physicists, chemists, battery firms and automakers are working together to build sophisticated equipment that can give electric car battery packs a lifetime of testing in a few weeks.

In turn, the test equipment could aid the development of cheaper, more energy-dense battery packs for ele

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Submitted Apr 12, 2012 By: Gas_Eyes

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GRCummins53 Veteran Author Stockton Posts:353 Points:143,030 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Apr 13, 2012 6:31:36 PM Ignore GRCummins53 Report Abuse In an article posted in this forum several weeks ago, one manufacturer was replacing battery packs when they had 80% of their original capacity remaining. What good is a battery when it is spent while having this much capacity left? What good is the car?
Gas_Eyes Champion Author Dallas Posts:2,672 Points:643,885 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Apr 13, 2012 10:47:02 AM Ignore Gas_Eyes Report Abuse In spite of the uncertainty of batteries in hybrids and EV's, the used car price are still relatively good. Especially these days when gas prices are high.
Norm10 Champion Author British Columbia Posts:3,337 Points:162,700 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Apr 13, 2012 9:25:08 AM Ignore Norm10 Report Abuse Not long enough!
SycamoreISU Champion Author Indiana Posts:1,040 Points:259,685 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Apr 13, 2012 8:59:07 AM Ignore SycamoreISU Report Abuse The batteries of electric cars are prohibitively expensive to replace, have a questionable lifespan, and can catch fire, perhaps even blow up. What's the appeal again?
NukeAtComEd All-Star Author Milwaukee Posts:725 Points:338,520 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: Apr 13, 2012 8:43:06 AM Ignore NukeAtComEd Report Abuse bring down the prices of new batteries as well!!
gandalfthegrey1 Champion Author Houston Posts:1,184 Points:384,785 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Apr 13, 2012 7:06:10 AM Ignore gandalfthegrey1 Report Abuse Every form of refuge has its price.
molebaby96 Champion Author Tallahassee Posts:2,121 Points:504,415 Joined:Nov 2011	Message Posted: Apr 13, 2012 6:39:05 AM Ignore molebaby96 Report Abuse Is the oil companies in control?
Ahking Champion Author Orange County Posts:3,502 Points:602,520 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Apr 13, 2012 1:58:44 AM Ignore Ahking Report Abuse Wish it describes more details on how it can be done.
gatekeepertwo Veteran Author Wilmington Posts:389 Points:187,120 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: Apr 13, 2012 1:06:31 AM Ignore gatekeepertwo Report Abuse we need better batteries but we need to make them in America.
52MPG Champion Author Dayton Posts:7,254 Points:1,740,670 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Apr 13, 2012 12:45:51 AM Ignore 52MPG Report Abuse A on board magnetic generator could easily replace batteries.
Nicoalbum Champion Author Ottawa Posts:6,013 Points:1,187,860 Joined:Jan 2010	Message Posted: Apr 13, 2012 12:20:58 AM Ignore Nicoalbum Report Abuse Those batteries are short-lived.
amerk73 Champion Author Dallas Posts:7,045 Points:1,620,105 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Apr 12, 2012 11:59:39 PM Ignore amerk73 Report Abuse how you use the batery
davenles Champion Author Texas Posts:3,191 Points:716,935 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Apr 12, 2012 11:19:54 PM Ignore davenles Report Abuse One more drawback of these vehicles.
jjjleblanc Champion Author Rochester Posts:5,867 Points:1,517,355 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Apr 12, 2012 10:55:37 PM Ignore jjjleblanc Report Abuse Great question.
car253 Champion Author Ohio Posts:6,293 Points:1,468,620 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Apr 12, 2012 10:52:58 PM Ignore car253 Report Abuse EV's are not ready for prime time.
MAJB Sophomore Author Indianapolis Posts:226 Points:109,435 Joined:Oct 2005	Message Posted: Apr 12, 2012 10:24:16 PM Ignore MAJB Report Abuse This is what is keeping me from buying an EV. Plus, what happen to al these used up batteries...
36_ACRES_4_SALE All-Star Author Appleton Posts:999 Points:338,815 Joined:Oct 2011	Message Posted: Apr 12, 2012 10:05:19 PM Ignore 36_ACRES_4_SALE Report Abuse :p
CVA19 Champion Author Salem Posts:2,393 Points:608,700 Joined:Aug 2011	Message Posted: Apr 12, 2012 9:50:36 PM Ignore CVA19 Report Abuse There are so many factors that affect the useable life of batteries. They will never be able to come up with anything more than a WAG.
TomT2Lee Champion Author Cincinnati Posts:5,352 Points:1,596,255 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: Apr 12, 2012 9:47:16 PM Ignore TomT2Lee Report Abuse Good point GenoAR. EVs have big problems not really being addressed.
GenoAR Veteran Author Arkansas Posts:429 Points:762,945 Joined:Oct 2008	Message Posted: Apr 12, 2012 9:22:35 PM Ignore GenoAR Report Abuse If you ever have to buy new batterys' for your electric car you will lose any savings that was realised by gas savings, and then some. If electric cars are ever to sell in large numbers the automobile manufacturers will have to offer a 10 year or maybe lifetime, replacement policy. Don't hold your breadth for this.
PDQBlues Champion Author San Diego Posts:7,064 Points:1,446,375 Joined:Jan 2009	Message Posted: Apr 12, 2012 8:49:51 PM Ignore PDQBlues Report Abuse dbecks44: We can pretty much just agree on the answer "not long enough" and call it good, right? The limiting factor for an all-electric car will be the battery. It's heavy, expensive and made with toxic chemicals. Develop the technology to make the battery unnecessary, and electric cars can be a viable alternative.
MOREDLEG Champion Author Missouri Posts:2,645 Points:610,010 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Apr 12, 2012 8:47:51 PM Ignore MOREDLEG Report Abuse Who Cares. If Green Car Reports the truth, I would like to see the cost per mile comparison. Oh dont forget the incentives, oh and the subsidies. Now that would be interesting
dbecks44 Champion Author Michigan Posts:1,342 Points:431,455 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: Apr 12, 2012 8:39:44 PM Ignore dbecks44 Report Abuse We can pretty much just agree on the answer "not long enough" and call it good, right?
TruthMatters Champion Author New Jersey Posts:2,520 Points:533,235 Joined:Oct 2011	Message Posted: Apr 12, 2012 8:37:49 PM Ignore TruthMatters Report Abuse So far mine has lasted 7 years and is still going strong!
RRBC Champion Author Victoria Posts:2,700 Points:527,990 Joined:Oct 2011	Message Posted: Apr 12, 2012 8:35:55 PM Ignore RRBC Report Abuse more research dollars
OHMS Champion Author Orange County Posts:13,712 Points:1,690,905 Joined:May 2005	Message Posted: Apr 12, 2012 8:25:02 PM Ignore OHMS Report Abuse n turn, those buying a used electric car will be able to better evaluate the true lifespan of its battery pack before handing over any money
ExplorerWA Champion Author Washington Posts:4,073 Points:795,425 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Apr 12, 2012 8:14:53 PM Ignore ExplorerWA Report Abuse I won't be buying one, so won't give the battery a second thought.
buckets42 Champion Author New Jersey Posts:1,690 Points:329,550 Joined:Oct 2011	Message Posted: Apr 12, 2012 8:00:37 PM Ignore buckets42 Report Abuse Mine currently lasts the life of the car basically.
bandannaman Champion Author New Jersey Posts:1,849 Points:365,610 Joined:Dec 2010	Message Posted: Apr 12, 2012 7:56:32 PM Ignore bandannaman Report Abuse Car battery (singular) or car batteries (plural)?
humblepie Champion Author Toledo Posts:34,154 Points:2,370,395 Joined:Mar 2006	Message Posted: Apr 12, 2012 7:40:42 PM Ignore humblepie Report Abuse forever, im not buying that crap