Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries charge up in seconds

[Bill Merchant]

Iron is a lot more plentiful than titanium, hence, less costly. It's not just anode area that's important.

[clett]

Regarding the fast charge discussion earlier, remember that Aerovironment have shown their chargers can charge a 30 kWh titanate pack from 0% to 100% (ie 150 miles range) in just 10 minutes.

All you need is an industrial 440 V 3-phase connection (which is available just about everywhere).

[EZW1]

Originally Posted by zcat3

The ... In order to transfer 50 kWh in a few minutes you would need one hell of an electrical connection.

...like putting those 8 great tomatoes in that little can.

It all comes down to passing an incredibly huge number of electrons through a conduit such that the conduit doesn't melt down. Ever been on the NY subway during rush hour?

[Herodotus]

Originally Posted by zcat3

The problem to be solved, then, is not how fast the battery can take a charge but how fast the charge can be delivered. Even with a 220V connection at 50 amps, you are only talking 11 kWh per hour. So for a full range EV with say a 50 kWh battery, it is still 5 hours to charge (this is essentially the specs for the Tesla). In order to transfer 50 kWh in a few minutes you would need one hell of an electrical connection.

Marty had the same problem in "Back to the Future". He uses a lightning bolt to charge his DeLorean time machine; he needs 1.21 gigawatts power (but they don't say how much energy).

Still, a lightning bolt is a nice, fast way of transferring energy. Toyota should look into that.