This paper examines and compares battery technologies from a somewhat narrow perspective of portable power for the next 15-20 years, analyzing why batteries will continue to play an important role in personal transportation and the attributes they need to deliver.
Given the typical gestation periods for a major new automotive technology to become mainstream, first part of the paper establishes that it is a relatively safe assertion that battery-based hybridization of gasoline or diesel powertrains represents the most credible alternative to the conventional propulsion systems, barring significant legislative intervention. It further examines, why, within the range of “implementation ready” battery technologies, Li-ion appears to be emerging as the dominant candidate to deliver reliable and affordable performance. This is partly because some of the required developments are being supported by its growing dominance in consumer electronics.
Remainder of the paper provides a brief background and history on the Li-ion battery technology, its current state of the art and the trade-offs from a user's perspective and concludes with a description of salient issues and trends.