Forum Topic

Lithium Batteries

I know electric cars and phones have lithium batteries. However I am now seeing throwaway Lithium AA size batteries on the market. Are we storing up a problem for the environment with these? Also is lithium in short supply?

Nicholas Beard ● 984d8 Comments

I remember that. I think it was called lean burn. Then the R and D was stopped as you say. On French TV I saw an interview with a taxi driver who had a hydrogen taxi. He thought it was great, quick to refuel infact about 30 seconds longer than petrol. There was a little button on the dash board that you pressed when stationary to drain off the water produced by the hydrogen. Any drawbacks? He had one only one, the price.

Nicholas Beard ● 983d

The worst thing is both Diesel and petrol engine development was nearing a zero emission and maximum efficiency stage.Of course it still means using a fossil fuel except sustainable fuels are also being developed.But the R&D budgets have been slashed and in many cases halted altogether.The fiscal return is far too way off for investors to be interested and for manufacturers to take the risk.Lithium is used in all sorts of small batteries making devices like phones and pacemakers and hearing aids possible.  Mobile phones and computers use the most lithium but for vehicular use the requirement is huge and unsustainable and extremely short sighted.  Only hydrogen is more efficient and versatile, but so far only a few nations, Canada being the lead are thinking ahead clearly and positively.HS2 could be Hydrogen powered and the infrastructure costs of wires and gantries eliminated but diverted to hydrogen.  But with no proper R&D for decades, no-one is prepared to take the risk.The benefits of R&D when fully resourced and focused are huge. The covid vaccines in record times show what can be done.But we are stuck with knee jerk quick fixes, costly and largely ineffective or retrograde.

Raymond Havelock ● 983d

Thanks for the info Joan. I certainly did not know you recharged E cigarettes. The batteries I have seen advertised are one use lithium which to me seems a bad move.

Nicholas Beard ● 984d

I was horrified to learn recently that e-cigarettes/vapes contain lithium batteries.

Joan Adamson ● 984d

One day we may find out that the internal combustion engine was not so bad after all.

Nicholas Beard ● 984d

In this rush to eliminate the internal combustion engine,we are already creating another problem for the environment in that we are trawling the ocean bed for dwindling supplies of lithium for car nbatteries.This will destroy eco systems,kill fish and other creatures and further upset the fine balance that life in the ocean already finds itself in, mostly due to pollution from man made contaminents.

Keith Iddon ● 984d

The ones I have seen are not for recharge but AA that you throw away after one use.

Nicholas Beard ● 984d

Lithium Batteries have been around for about 20 years and usually for professional use as they are much lighter, recharge better and for more cycles and the best ones have a steadier discharge.Lithium itself is very toxic and can toxify water with devastating effect.It is the extraction that is most harmful. A Pandoras box unchecked.It has to be remembered that not all natural water sources produce pure drinkable water. The earths inners also produces toxins much of which remains undiscovered and often why some otherwise geographical suitable areas were uninhabited.  Water but not as we know it!.  It is a finite substance and it's extraction is far more damaging to the environment than fossil fuels as it can never be cleaned up without consequences. Hence the keeness for the West to leave it to China to pollute their own back yard whilst promoting use of Electric vehicles.Simply creating a bigger problem elsewhere solves nothing. Going for the quick fix option to suit hyped trends rather than increase R&D of better solutions which are there but lagging behind from emphasis is being myopic and misguided for a quick fix.Indicative of the 'I want it and I want it now' culture globally. And yet the best options are drawn out and pushed away.  It does not suit the 'I want big profits and I want them quick' parallel

Raymond Havelock ● 984d