New Hybrid Battery
Hybrid cars are a great invention to combat the vast use of fossil fuels, and to address the issue that they are quickly being used up. But a problem that faces designers and manufacturers alike is that the batteries that they need to power these hybrid vehicles are far too heavy to make them economical in a car, as they add bulk to the design.
So it's great news that car manufacturer Volvo are in the process of developing a car that deals with this issue by using its whole body as a portable rechargeable battery. It would be able to store breaking energy when its being driven, and store energy when being recharged at night. The project is currently being worked on by Volvo, engineers at Imperial University and other institutes across Europe.
The panels would have to be made out of strong materials to replace the steel and other metals used to formulate the body of the current vehicle, but the latest materials are made of extremely thin but strong fibres, making them perfect.
Imperial college are working on a blend of materials to store and charge energy faster than a regular battery, and they are researching the idea of producing the materials on an industrial scale.
Initial designs of the car will keep a battery in the space where the spare wheel normally is, and the battery panels will only be introduced at the final stage of the development.
If the project is successful there are many other areas that the battery could be transferred to make our lives easier, including mobile phones as thin as credit cards and lightweight laptops.
If you currently are driving on Britain's roads, make sure that you have a valid Car Insurance policy.