Analysis of Aluminum-Air Battery Propulsion Systems for Passenger Vehicles

摘要

The performance characteristics of three electric-propulsion systems based on the Al-air battery were analyzed and compared to the internal combustion engine (ICE). Battery characteristics projected from late 1979 and early 1980 experimental results were used in the analysis. In this comparison, the engine and fuel systems of a current five-passenger vehicle were conceptually replaced by three Al-air systems: (1) an Al-air battery-only system; (2) an Al-air battery combined with a nickel-zinc secondary battery for power leveling; and (3) an Al-air battery combined with a flywheel power leveler. The resultant vehicles were constrained to have range and acceleration performance equivalent to the ICE-powered vehicle. Performance characteristics such as the average consumption rate of Al metal for the selected drive cycle, vehicle mass, and power system mass were determined for each Al-air propulsion system. Estimates of initial-vehicle and life-cycle costs of Al-air battery-only vehicles indicate that all three systems can achieve performance and operation costs comparable to an ICE vehicle, and that the initial cost of Al-air battery-only vehicles can approach the cost of ICE vehicles but at reduced power levels. (ERA citation 05:029275)