Batteries With Bounce

BATTERIES HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THE ACHILLES' HEEL of electric cars; you can make one that's rugged, but it's bound to be too heavy, too bulky and unable to store enough electricity. Or you can make a lightweight, efficient battery using a liquid containing lithium salts as the energy-storage medium, and risk leakage or fire in the case of an accident. Now three Arizona State University chemists have an answer that is literally a clever solution. By dissolving lithium not into liquid but into polymer (plastic), they have paved the way for a high-power battery that is light yet durable. This novel cell is still in the experimental stage and needs more engineering. It may not be long, however, before scientists proudly announce a practical battery with more bounce to the ounce.