Next Generation batteries to make EVs viable.(Brief Article)

US/Japan Lithium-polymer batteries, which could greatly improve the viability of electric cars, have gone into low-volume production in the USA and Japan.

Related to lithium-ion batteries, the lithium-polymer type has been developed by Sony for Nissan's EVs, and offers such a gain in energy density that they could make electric cars a practical proposition -- but at a price.

In lithium-ion batteries, polymers replace metal components. Odense of Denmark uses a graphite anode and lithium cobalt oxide with a proprietary gell electrolyte to produce cells for handheld computer devices -- of course, conventional lithium-ion batteries started off in such …