Batteries of the Future for Vehicle Applications

In consonance with the theme of this centennial symposium, it is appropriate to consider how electrochemistry in the automotive industry can make important future contributions to energy independence and a cleaner environment. Electric vehicles powered by rechargeable batteries offer the opportunity to shift a portion of the transportation energy demand away from petroleum, and toward other energy sources such as coal, nuclear, and hydroelectric. The importance of this opportunity can be understood by examination of Figure 1, (1) which is an energy flow diagram of the U.S. energy economy. Note that the transportation sector consumes an amount of oil equal to the total U.S. production (and more than all of the imports*). A reduction in the petroleum consumption by the transportation sector would allow a corresponding reduction in oil imports. This could be achieved by the use of electrical energy for at least part of our transportation. Note (Figure 1) that only a small fraction of the U.S.’s electrical energy is produced from oil.