Something else that has to be beaten with Lithium batteries is the fact that they can't handle the cycles (charge/discharge) that the Nickel Metal Hydride can.

Supposedly the NiMHy batteries when cycled between 40% - 80% capacity (like the Prius and FEH management systems do) will last a very, very long time. Current Lithium batteries will not do this and is another reason you don't see them in vehicles where large numbers of duty cycles are needed.

Hopefully these Lithium battery technologies mentioned can beat the issues, I'd love to see the NiMHy battery be replaced with Lithium batteries in Hybrids, but we have a while to wait.

Scott

 

Assuming they were recyclable, and could be done, if there was the infrastructure and cost effective system in place, I doubt that it would be that hard if people got their battery packs changed like oil changes, though far less often, maybe every 50K. Or a plug in component to that as well.

I don't know, just tossing the idea out there.

 

Heyya, this is a start in the direction I was hoping for. Not an Escape but check it out...

http://www.wired.com/news/wiredmag/0...l?tw=rss.index

http://www.teslamotors.com/

Found it interesting. A Green sportscar!