Comments on: Tool Tech: Lithium-Ion’s Successor — Nanoscale Batteries http://toolmonger.com/2007/02/19/tool-tech-lithium-ions-successor-nanoscale-batteries/ All tools. All the time. Your source for news, information, and reviews of hand tools, power tools, and tools of all kinds. Fri, 04 Jul 2008 22:42:27 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.2 by: Doug Korthof http://toolmonger.com/2007/02/19/tool-tech-lithium-ions-successor-nanoscale-batteries/#comment-71066 Fri, 01 Jun 2007 17:14:12 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/02/19/tool-tech-lithium-ions-successor-nanoscale-batteries/#comment-71066 I've got the B&D 3/8" 14.4v version (about $90 at Home Depot). So far, it works fine, with no problems except not as much power as NiCd versions. The sales person stated that the Makita Lithium drills were coming back, complaints about not holding a charge, but don't know if that's for real. I'm going to get the DeWalt 1/2" version (36v) and try it out, but I'd like to know who makes the Li pack for the bigger drill, before buying it. Can this be the miracle battery? I'd stick with Nickel, cheaper and stronger, until the facts are in. I’ve got the B&D 3/8″ 14.4v version (about $90 at Home Depot). So far, it works fine, with no problems except not as much power as NiCd versions. The sales person stated that the Makita Lithium drills were coming back, complaints about not holding a charge, but don’t know if that’s for real.

I’m going to get the DeWalt 1/2″ version (36v) and try it out, but I’d like to know who makes the Li pack for the bigger drill, before buying it.

Can this be the miracle battery? I’d stick with Nickel, cheaper and stronger, until the facts are in.

]]> by: Chuck Cage http://toolmonger.com/2007/02/19/tool-tech-lithium-ions-successor-nanoscale-batteries/#comment-25683 Fri, 23 Feb 2007 23:08:43 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/02/19/tool-tech-lithium-ions-successor-nanoscale-batteries/#comment-25683 bbot: The cells in DeWalt's 36V line are made by A123, but aren't the nanoscale type cells. bbot: The cells in DeWalt’s 36V line are made by A123, but aren’t the nanoscale type cells.

]]> by: ambush27 http://toolmonger.com/2007/02/19/tool-tech-lithium-ions-successor-nanoscale-batteries/#comment-25444 Fri, 23 Feb 2007 08:46:03 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/02/19/tool-tech-lithium-ions-successor-nanoscale-batteries/#comment-25444 I've heard of these, and so far, I'm not that excited, heck, I'm not even that excited about Li-on batteries. Sure lithium batteries may have more potential, but as already pointed out, they're extremely reactive, and NiMH batteries actually store more energy by volume, just not by weight. I’ve heard of these, and so far, I’m not that excited, heck, I’m not even that excited about Li-on batteries. Sure lithium batteries may have more potential, but as already pointed out, they’re extremely reactive, and NiMH batteries actually store more energy by volume, just not by weight.

]]> by: Gary http://toolmonger.com/2007/02/19/tool-tech-lithium-ions-successor-nanoscale-batteries/#comment-24768 Wed, 21 Feb 2007 19:38:41 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/02/19/tool-tech-lithium-ions-successor-nanoscale-batteries/#comment-24768 there was a pretty intereting article about this company and it's endeavors in Wired mag a little over a year ago. Been waiting patiently to see something materialize. Hopefully soon. there was a pretty intereting article about this company and it’s endeavors in Wired mag a little over a year ago. Been waiting patiently to see something materialize. Hopefully soon.

]]> by: ElectricMotorcyles.net http://toolmonger.com/2007/02/19/tool-tech-lithium-ions-successor-nanoscale-batteries/#comment-23992 Tue, 20 Feb 2007 03:26:46 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/02/19/tool-tech-lithium-ions-successor-nanoscale-batteries/#comment-23992 KillaCycle is an electric motorcylce that uses these to reach 150+mph. http://electricmotorcycles.net/modules/wordpress/?p=190 KillaCycle is an electric motorcylce that uses these to reach 150+mph.

http://electricmotorcycles.net/modules/wordpress/?p=190

]]> by: Jeff T http://toolmonger.com/2007/02/19/tool-tech-lithium-ions-successor-nanoscale-batteries/#comment-23939 Tue, 20 Feb 2007 01:33:08 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/02/19/tool-tech-lithium-ions-successor-nanoscale-batteries/#comment-23939 I am right there with Nate and the others. By the way... Where are the high-efficiency solar panels we've been promised for years? I am right there with Nate and the others.

By the way… Where are the high-efficiency solar panels we’ve been promised for years?

]]> by: nrChris http://toolmonger.com/2007/02/19/tool-tech-lithium-ions-successor-nanoscale-batteries/#comment-23884 Mon, 19 Feb 2007 23:15:58 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/02/19/tool-tech-lithium-ions-successor-nanoscale-batteries/#comment-23884 You pay the price two-fold to be on the cutting edge of cordless technologies--the price is incredible at the beginning, and the technology always seems to mature more after it has been around for a while rather than fresh out of R&D. While this is exciting in abstract, lets look again in five years at what our tools have for power sources. You pay the price two-fold to be on the cutting edge of cordless technologies–the price is incredible at the beginning, and the technology always seems to mature more after it has been around for a while rather than fresh out of R&D. While this is exciting in abstract, lets look again in five years at what our tools have for power sources.

]]> by: Roger Davis http://toolmonger.com/2007/02/19/tool-tech-lithium-ions-successor-nanoscale-batteries/#comment-23850 Mon, 19 Feb 2007 21:35:00 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/02/19/tool-tech-lithium-ions-successor-nanoscale-batteries/#comment-23850 Dewalt and A123 announced around 6 months ago an exclusive partnership to develop power tools using this technology. However, PR hype certainly overshot the mark. Read more <a href="http://slkelectronics.com/DeWalt/index.htm" rel="nofollow">here</a>... Note: I don't work for Dewalt, A123 or SLK Electronics. Dewalt and A123 announced around 6 months ago an exclusive partnership to develop power tools using this technology. However, PR hype certainly overshot the mark. Read more here…

Note: I don’t work for Dewalt, A123 or SLK Electronics.

]]> by: bbot http://toolmonger.com/2007/02/19/tool-tech-lithium-ions-successor-nanoscale-batteries/#comment-23846 Mon, 19 Feb 2007 21:11:19 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/02/19/tool-tech-lithium-ions-successor-nanoscale-batteries/#comment-23846 A123 batteries are already used in power tools. DeWalt's 36v line uses them. http://www.a123systems.com/html/news/articles/051102_pr.html http://www.dewalt.com/36v/ (click on "batteries and chargers) They've got three times the run time of the 18v batteries but the same weight, and charge in a hour. Seriously guys, keep up. A123 batteries are already used in power tools. DeWalt’s 36v line uses them.

http://www.a123systems.com/html/news/articles/051102_pr.html
http://www.dewalt.com/36v/ (click on “batteries and chargers)

They’ve got three times the run time of the 18v batteries but the same weight, and charge in a hour.

Seriously guys, keep up.

]]> by: Patrick Fitzgerald http://toolmonger.com/2007/02/19/tool-tech-lithium-ions-successor-nanoscale-batteries/#comment-23820 Mon, 19 Feb 2007 19:59:18 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/02/19/tool-tech-lithium-ions-successor-nanoscale-batteries/#comment-23820 I'm with Nate... I'll believe these miracle announcements when I can hold them in my hand. I’m with Nate… I’ll believe these miracle announcements when I can hold them in my hand.

]]> by: Nate Bezanson http://toolmonger.com/2007/02/19/tool-tech-lithium-ions-successor-nanoscale-batteries/#comment-23768 Mon, 19 Feb 2007 16:44:21 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/02/19/tool-tech-lithium-ions-successor-nanoscale-batteries/#comment-23768 Like every other holy-grail battery announcement of the last decade, this will be sweet if it pans out. But forgive my skepticism, as the odds simply aren't good. All we know at this point is that they have a good PR firm, as approximately one battery company per year seems to. Even traditional lithium-ion chemistry is pretty volatile, when treated more-or-less properly, as Sony's exploding laptop woes prove. The higher the energy density, the more potential for problems. That doesn't mean big batteries can't work, it just means we need to think about what's in our tools and treat them appropriately. Never walk away from a battery when it's charging, for instance. (I had a NiMH cell vent while charging a few weeks ago, it's no fun!) Improvements will be made, some minor, some major. Some will never see the light of day. Only time will tell, so I remain cautiously optimistic. One thing's for sure, though: My wallet's not budging. Yet. Like every other holy-grail battery announcement of the last decade, this will be sweet if it pans out. But forgive my skepticism, as the odds simply aren’t good. All we know at this point is that they have a good PR firm, as approximately one battery company per year seems to.

Even traditional lithium-ion chemistry is pretty volatile, when treated more-or-less properly, as Sony’s exploding laptop woes prove. The higher the energy density, the more potential for problems. That doesn’t mean big batteries can’t work, it just means we need to think about what’s in our tools and treat them appropriately. Never walk away from a battery when it’s charging, for instance. (I had a NiMH cell vent while charging a few weeks ago, it’s no fun!)

Improvements will be made, some minor, some major. Some will never see the light of day. Only time will tell, so I remain cautiously optimistic.

One thing’s for sure, though: My wallet’s not budging. Yet.

]]> by: Paul http://toolmonger.com/2007/02/19/tool-tech-lithium-ions-successor-nanoscale-batteries/#comment-23730 Mon, 19 Feb 2007 15:30:58 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2007/02/19/tool-tech-lithium-ions-successor-nanoscale-batteries/#comment-23730 A real breakthrough in battery technology could be a very big deal for all of us indeed. Interesting! I am intrigued to learn more as this develops. A real breakthrough in battery technology could be a very big deal for all of us indeed. Interesting! I am intrigued to learn more as this develops.

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