News - Structural batteries give gadgets power from their casings

[HEXUS]

New material is both the battery and the body material.

Read more.

[davesom555]

What happens if the material gets struck by lightning. Does it charge up?

[mtyson]

What happens if the material gets struck by lightning. Does it charge up?

Are you confusing this with some other research by a Dr Frankenstein?

[davesom555]

Well, it is similar, Frankenstein's monster was more of a chemical battery though, much like the BAE systems structural battery!

[Teamsreth]

Wouldn't these body panels be amazingly expensive if damaged? I would have thought using this material would have been better as a chassis? Although I suppose that surface area is the key.

Still, a decent range might make it viable, cost dependant.

[Tartanpimpernel]

Guess for vehicles this would be coupled to the breakthrough in wireless charging ?

http://www.geek.com/articles/geek-ce...roads-2012076/

Still early days, but impressive results so far 90% transfer efficiency and power transfer currently up to 60W

Both of these would see electric vehicles a far more viable option ( that is if the colossal expense of the infrastructure changes didn't put governments off )

[MrBozack]

It's not nearly as cool as the smart glass that goes frosty when a current is passed through it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3UvwRHqEFA


Sorry, Dr Emile Greenhalgh.

[Tartanpimpernel]

It's not nearly as cool as the smart glass that goes frosty when a current is passed through it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3UvwRHqEFA


Sorry, Dr Emile Greenhalgh.

Damn that is cool!

Could turn my unused conservatory into an AV room/Gaming room!

[snikez18]

this would be good but what if you dropped it, would it damage it?

[cameronlite]

this would be good but what if you dropped it, would it damage it?

How often do you drop your car?

In all seriousness though: as the actual battery part is a 'fibre' as they call it, it might be able to bend a bit. The resin however will *probably* harden the fibres and hence make them brittle.

[miniyazz]

Guess for vehicles this would be coupled to the breakthrough in wireless charging ?

http://www.geek.com/articles/geek-ce...roads-2012076/

Still early days, but impressive results so far 90% transfer efficiency and power transfer currently up to 60W

Both of these would see electric vehicles a far more viable option ( that is if the colossal expense of the infrastructure changes didn't put governments off )

Surely this would make the roads magnetic?
Goodbye D of E expeditions.. and something that large, I wouldn't trust my hard drives in the car

It's not nearly as cool as the smart glass that goes frosty when a current is passed through it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3UvwRHqEFA


Sorry, Dr Emile Greenhalgh.

This I do want. They casually omit to say how much the glass costs. Perfect for lazy people like me who can't be bothered to fit decent curtains so just have blackout blinds for sleeping in the daytime (although actually don't know how transmissive it is - not sure if it blocks out light or just turns opaque). (Working nights, not being lazy, but that too )

[howdee]

Make these battery layers transparent, add on top of them a self-charging, polymer based indium tin oxide photovoltaic layer, a bottom OLED layer, cover all of it with gorilla glass and use them as high-tech car windscreens as well! Volvo FTW LOL!