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phemens's avatar
phemens
Explorer
Feb 21, 2018

SiO2 batteries - opinions?

I’m looking to replace my bank of 4 Trojan T-125’s this spring, and was researching various solutions. I was verging towards AGM (FullRiver DC215-12) 12v units to a total of roughly 600 ah (300 usable), but there was a significant price increase since last fall when I had them quoted. I was considering sticking with wet cells (Rolls 12FS 210), but then they suggested the Firefly Carbon Foam option - still a significant price increase over wet, but nowhere near Lithium Ion.
While roaming web sites, I came across a site selling SiO2 batteries that are claimed to have same attributes of Lithium or Carbon Foam (good high load tolerance, high use to discharge 80-100%, etc)
The SiO2 battery is what they call an Ultra Long Life Battery 12v 100ah weighs 60 lbs each.
Link
Any opinions on this technology?
  • GordonThree's avatar
    GordonThree
    Explorer
    Feb 21, 2018
    Anyone claiming to sell a silicon air battery is selling you snake oil.

    Yes, the technology exists, but it's no where near ready for mainstream production.

    See here:

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silicon%E2%80%93air_battery

    https://www.llnl.gov/news/advanced-carbon-aerogels-energy-applications

    https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc711990/m2/1/high_res_d/7232.pdf

    The defense department seems very keen on the technology, which is a good thing - most of our everyday consumer technology has come from defense research.

    Carbon foam, I'm skeptical too ... yes, there appears to be a real product, and there's that guy on a boat who endorses them, but that's it? If they're so great, why doesn't my new truck have one, or my fairly new RV. Why can't I buy one at Walmart? Snake oil again?

    MTU seemed hopeful about the technology, six years ago?

    http://www.mtu.edu/news/stories/2011/november/carbon-foam-key-ingredient-better-battery.html

    I'm not seeing anything from DARPA, and other than MTU, no engineering schools seem to be working on carbon foam.

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