Tesla's latest acquisition means better batteries for future cars



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The improved battery performance has been the holy grail for electric vehicle manufacturers, and with so many companies looking for attention, the race is on to make sure that the drivers do not need to charge their car as often. It is hardly surprising that Tesla turns to Maxwell. After all, the company has a great deal of experience with traditional lithium-ion batteries. In an article published last year, Maxwell researchers Joon Shin and Hieu Duong said the company had developed "dry" battery electrodes that allowed for "unmatched energy density and durability." improved cycle "compared to more traditional models. And since the Maxwell production process does not involve toxic liquid solvents, it is also easier for the environment.

The attractiveness of improved lithium-ion batteries would be tempting for any electric car business, but Maxwell's work with ultra-capacitors can also provide insights into Tesla's future plans. In short, ultra-capacitors are solid-state (ie, non-chemical) energy sources that are more efficient at providing rapid bursts when needed than more traditional techniques that are well suited to be recharged during braking. If these benefits are good for electric vehicles, you're right: they're already used in some hybrid buses, and Tesla fans have been discussing their potential benefits for Musk cars for years.

The founder of Tesla has long been interested in ultracapacitors and their potential (he has almost explored them as part of a pH-sensing program), and the acquisition of Maxwell could give Musk the talent needed to try them in future vehicles. If nothing else, however, the last purchase of Tesla could be enough to give it an edge over the incumbent car manufacturers, until they buy their own innovative battery manufacturers.

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