Redox battery for EVs is recharged in minutes through electrolyte exchange

This entry is a bit belated, it seems. BUT for ceretain the government will always fail to consider the unintended consequences of an action, see our current economic condition for the most obvious example. They should only allow, not mandate, things. The replacable electrolyte battery does sound a lot like a fuel cell, it is true. Now here is a suggestion, which is for a fuel cell that works on carbon-based materials instead of hydrogen, or hydrogen releasing materials. Just think, if we had a fuel cell that would run on methane, or perhaps even fuel oil. Use the present distribution network, be compatible with current vehicles, greatly reduce emissions, allowing electric drive, which can be controlled much more efficiently. As a side benefit, the same fuel cell could power your house while you were home, reducing the demand on the grid. I have not thought through any of the downside possibilities, but berhaps others may come up with some. Seldom does an idea not have a few down sides. But it does seem like it would be worth considering.

To dick_freebird: The replacement electrolyte need not be transported, other than in the vehicle in which it's being used. In the vehicle's battery, the electrolyte is depleted. At the exchange station, when the depleted electrolyte is recovered, it could be fed to a stationary battery set of some sort, and charging that battery will revitalize the electrolyte. Think of it as a variation on the battery exchange method. It still seems problematic to me. Flow batteries are best kept to stationary uses.

I wonder how long the plates last under continued discharge? What are the plates made of, and what is the cost of refurbishment of the cells?

Heard ~ same news from an Israel source few years ago then ... nothing until today. This liquid battery concept is attractive but seems to evaporate into vapor(ware)then condensate back from year to year. It appears that lithium titanate and carbon coated metallic salts are more crisp technologies. For example, an IREQ team (Canada) has done successful multiple deep cycling of 2kWhr battery in seconds without degradation. E_Carfield

Thank you, to cb, for missing the point entirely. cb was spot on in expressing his concern well-intentioned but misguided government mandates. Said mandates stifle and delay development of superior technologies, and there is no rational cause for rushing ineffective solutions as replacements for the combustion engine. Let the market decide.

Have you heard of Tesla Motors? Their 2nd generation EV, the Model S, scheduled for release in 2011? It has a 5-minute battery-swap, and has a 45-minute quick-charge option!