The Battery Council International reports that 93% of all battery lead is recycled. A higher recycling rate than newspapers (55%) or aluminum cans (42%). Typical new lead-acid batteries contain 60-80% recycled lead and plastic. A true recycling success!

Also the consensus seems to be that batteries will last 3-4 years depending on usage.  Most of the articles I found tonight were a year or more old, so I’m hoping that there is new battery technology now, or coming in the near future.  When I am ready to start on my electric car I will do some more in-depth research.

The article that got me all excited about electric cars again can be found here on the website Treehugger.com Please let me know if you have any better information on new and improved batteries.

I just read in the current issue of Discover magazine that there are two new capacitor gadgets out on the market. A bike light and a cordless screw driver. I am REALLY excited about the screwdriver. It’s made by Coleman, and has a recharge time of 90 seconds. Seriously, that is unbelievable. I have spent so much time waiting for hand drill batteries to recharge that it makes me edgy just writing about it. 90 seconds! Instead of a battery this driver has an ultracapacitor inside which, like all capacitors, has the ability to take a charge very quickly. You can learn more about it at flashcelldriver.com

Charges in 90 seconds! That’s right… 90 SECONDS!!!

The bike light is pretty cool too. It has a capacitor in it, and gets its charge from a magnet attached to the wheel of your bike. Every time the magnet goes by it allows the light to generate a little electricity. There are two models, one that flashes, and one that stays on continuously while you ride, and for a short time when you stop. Learn more at reelight.com

I should point out that I have not seen either of these devices in person.  I am relying on Discover magazine and the manufacturer’s websites, but even so, I’m pretty impressed.  Capacitors are still not useful for larger, more power-intensive machines like hybrid cars, but researchers are working on it.

The bar has been raised yet again. Lithium Technology Corporation out of Pennsyvania has released a new line of lithium batteries
that are “…the answer the automotive industry has been searching for.” according to their website.

The Future of Thongs has a great article on the new 125 mpg hybrid. Read it here.

Learn more about Lithium Technology Corporation on their website.

This is another tidbit that is not current at all, but I just couldn’t resist pointing it out.  500 pound potato battery.

I have always thought that it must be a pain to keep gas in the generators that used to be on the flashing arrow signs on the highway, and who knows how much time and money must’ve been spent on generator maintenance. Also, it must be a hassle dealing with all the disposable batteries in the flashing lights on barrels in work zones. I can recall seeing hundreds of those lights in some areas. Although I haven’t seen any solution to the disposable battery problem (other than just not using them as much), solar seems to have solved the gererator problem on the big highway display signs.

There is a company called Solar Tech that is supplying construction companies with signs that have solar cells on top so that they no longer have to deal with generators. Aside from not having to buy gas anymore, LED technology has surely saved time and money by reducing the cost of changing burned-out light bulbs in the old signs. Also, since LEDs require less energy to operate, they made it easier (or perhaps even possible in the first place) for solar to work in this application.