Advanced Batteries

As the nation's energy supply is shifting towards the wider distribution of electricity, storage has become a significant hurdle that researchers and manufacturers are looking to turn from a negative to a positive. Plug-in cars and renewable energy sources are becoming a catalyst for new technology that is traditionally relied upon by NASA and the US military for advancement. General Electric, General Motors, and other large US companies have added the dimension of the necessary requirement for any new technology to be manufactured on a large scale.

In the past, advancing battery technology meant that it was made cheaper, and it could last longer on one charge. Now the game has changed, and innovators have been asked to add the dimension of a quick and efficient recharge. Of course this has been part of the research for years, but it has now become an opportunity for considerable return of investment.

Researchers are also being asked to figure out the best way to store a lot of energy without the restriction of size. Expansion of renewable energy sources like wind and solar power is changing the needs of electricity generators. Renewable power plants need to store power so the electricity can be supplied to homes even when the wind is not blowing, and the sun is not shining. This area of research has seen some of the most creative solutions for storing energy.

The next era of batteries will undoubtedly have a complicated acronym, but its composition is to be determined. As our homes and cars are converting to a larger reliance on electrical energy, battery advancement will need to keep up. Soon the technology will trickle down to our smaller devices and gadgets. Cell phones, cameras, and laptops are the direct beneficiaries of this push from the top.

Over the next few years, do not undervalue the importance of the advanced battery research as they will need to hold more power, recharge faster, last longer, and weigh less. Your next car might just rely on it.