The so-called classic accumulator is not yet exhausted concerning development possibilities. The newest trends in research and development indicate that new production methods offer more cost-efficient methods for production of batteries than present production techniques, corresponding with presumptive large production numbers. | 4 Batteries for Electric Road Vehicles H. A. KIEHNE INTRODUCTION The so-called classic accumulator is not yet exhausted concerning development possibilities. The newest trends in research and development indicate that new production methods offer more cost-efficient methods for production of batteries than present production techniques corresponding with presumptive large production numbers. Even though presently much work is being invested into conventional battery systems hopes are focusing on new batteries of higher energy content such as high temperature batteries . sodium sulfur and lithium sulfur batteries. It must be mentioned however that even though very good results can be expected no magic battery will be invented by battery development teams or by teams in any other industry. The traveling range of battery-powered vehicles will always be very limited compared to vehicles featuring combustion engines if comparing the practically attainable energy contents of batteries 40 to 150Wh kg to the gigantic 12 000 to 13 000 Wh kg for gasoline even though the efficiency of electric energy forms is about five times as high. This chapter gives basic information on existing systems such as the lead-acid battery other systems under development are described in Chapter 1 and Chapter 10. Copyright 2003 by Expert Verlag. All Rights Reserved. Figure The first electric battery-powered car the Runabout 1890 . The history of industrial production of batteries comprises almost a century the electric car is of the same age. Adolf Mueller founder of the AFA Accumulator-enfabrik Aktiengesellschaft Varta returned to Germany from a trip to the United States in 1893 with an electrically powered vehicle the Runabout see Figure . He drove this car for many years. Interest of the car manufacturers was very limited but was wakened at the turn of the century when reports of about 15 000 electric cars in operation in the United States reached the country. Very low energy .
