Lithium-Air Batteries: The Next Big Thing

Researchers are racing to develop production-ready lithium-air batteries that could produce energy densities akin to that of gasoline, Bloomberg News reports.

Such chemistries would produce batteries with five to 15 times the energy density of today's lithium-ion batteries and driving ranges at least equal to conventional piston-powered vehicles.

Metal-air batteries, a concept discovered 150 years ago, generate electricity by oxidizing a metal with oxygen from the air. They all offer higher energy densities than conventional batteries because they don't need to contain their own reactants.

Zinc-air batteries were commercialized several years ago to replace mercury batteries in such devices as hearing aids and cameras. Developers say lithium is an especially attractive material for such chemistries because of the exceptionally high energy densities possible. But they concede the necessary technology is still in its infancy.

Chemistry and durability challenges are the big hurdles. Bloomberg notes that it isn't clear if or when researchers can overcome either obstacle. Last month BMW and Toyota announced they will collaborate on a new lithium-air battery project.

IBM Corp. says it intends to build a prototype showcasing its "moonshot" lithium-air technology next year. But it tells Bloomberg it will take five to 10 years to commercialize the system.