A Book About Lithium batteries “Bottled Lightning: Superbatteries, Electric Cars, and the New Lithium Economy”

Technology
A Book About Lithium batteries “Bottled Lightning: Superbatteries, Electric Cars, and the New Lithium Economy”

Bottled Lightning

A book about Lithium batteries “Bottled Lightning: Superbatteries, Electric Cars, and the New Lithium Economy”… This looks interesting!

Electric cars are real—see the Tesla Roadster, Chevy Volt, and hybrids like the Nissan Leaf and Toyota Prius—but the drive to create safe, lightweight, and long-lasting batteries to power them has been anything but smooth. Faced with political, technological, and management obstacles, battery technology still lags. In the mid-1800s Fletcher says, clean, cheap lead-acid batteries were developed that by the early 20th century were preferred for use in automobiles over “unreliable, complicated, loud, and dirty” gasoline-powered cars—until it came time to refuel. Thomas Edison tried to invent a safe, longer-duration battery, even experimenting with small amounts of lithium, but then Charles Kettering patented an automatic starter for gas engines, and the battle was lost.

Smog and 1970s gas shortages revived interest in electric cars—and lithium batteries. But obstacles remain: Bolivia, Chile, and China have less than optimal political leadership and minimal infrastructure to safely mine and process the poisonous ore. More importantly, many technical challenges must be overcome before electric cars and buses become everyday modes of transportation. But Fletcher remains optimistic. He balances science and history with a closeup look at business practices and priorities, providing lucid and thorough coverage of a timely topic.

“[Fletcher] follows lithium from the South American salt flats where most lithium minerals are mined to the labs of General Motors, tracing its journey from obscure metal to one of the most sought-after resources on earth—and perhaps the centerpiece of the automotive future.”

16 thoughts on “A Book About Lithium batteries “Bottled Lightning: Superbatteries, Electric Cars, and the New Lithium Economy”

  1. John Schwabacher says:

    “Electric cars are real—see the Tesla Roadster, Chevy Volt, and hybrids like the Nissan Leaf and Toyota Prius…”
    Oops! The Volt is the hybrid and my brand new Leaf is all electric.

  2. Seth Fletcher says:

    John, rest assured the book itself doesn’t contain that error — the text quoted above is from the Publisher’s Weekly review of the book. 

  3. Seth Fletcher says:

    John, rest assured the book itself doesn’t contain that error — the text quoted above is from the Publisher’s Weekly review of the book. 

  4. Anonymous says:

    Lithium Drive: Will We See Google Electric Car Before the Electric iCar from Apple?

    Will Google beat the Apple with its own Electric Car? Do not rush to to the conclusions too fast, but all these videos, the latest news from Nevada and Google investments in Electric Cars technology are pointing to the one direction – Electric Cars.  http://sufiy.blogspot.com/2011/05/lithium-drive-will-we-see-google.html

  5. Anonymous says:

    Lithium Drive: Will We See Google Electric Car Before the Electric iCar from Apple?

    Will Google beat the Apple with its own Electric Car? Do not rush to to the conclusions too fast, but all these videos, the latest news from Nevada and Google investments in Electric Cars technology are pointing to the one direction – Electric Cars.  http://sufiy.blogspot.com/2011/05/lithium-drive-will-we-see-google.html

  6. Anonymous says:

    Seth,

    Is your book on Amazon?

    Regards,

    Sufiy

  7. Anonymous says:

    Seth,

    Is your book on Amazon?

    Regards,

    Sufiy

  8. Anonymous says:

    Your place is valueble for me. Thanks!… acompanhantes loiras| acompanhantes sao paulo

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