L-Ion R&D

[3mg Meniere]

My brother, who desperately needs to quit smoking, and I are discussing the development of lithium-ion battery technology. He claims that with low gas prices, companies involved are not going to invest in battery technology research. I claim that transportation is not the only application, and research will continue.

Anyone want to weigh in on this?

 

[puffon]

I believe battery technology research will always move forward.
However, I don't think it will be done specifically for vaping devices. The market is too small.

 

[edyle]

My brother, who desperately needs to quit smoking, and I are discussing the development of lithium-ion battery technology. He claims that with low gas prices, companies involved are not going to invest in battery technology research. I claim that transportation is not the only application, and research will continue.

Anyone want to weigh in on this?

1:
companies that do research don't just drop it one years then start back up the next year going back and forth with fluctuating prices.

2:
The big market for rechargeable batteries includes cellphones, laptops, and cordless power tools.

 

[entropy1049]

What your brother says is certainly true so far as the development of new battery technologies for electric vehicles goes. The need for 500 pound battery packs that require relatively frequent replacement has long been acknowledged to be the limiting factor in the practical acceptance of fully electric vehicles.

At large however, it would seem that there are sufficient applications for new technologies to drive research forward at a pace dictated by the demand.

However, should the price of crude oil rise back to nearly $150/barrel and camp out there, I would predict battery technology research will experience a rise in interest.