RED-LION - Are reduced-cost lithium-ion batteries achievable?

Cheaper. lighter, more efficient hybrid batteries

There is no doubt that once lithium-ion batteries are proven safe and as cost-effective as NiMH batteries, the hybrid revolution will truly begin. Conventional hybrid vehicles, such as the Toyota Prius, will be cheaper and more fuel efficient, and new hybrids, such as plug-in hybrid vehicles, will enable many commuters to bypass gasoline altogether.

Cheaper lithium-ion batteries are the focus of Ricardo's Red-Lion project.

"The specific objective of the Reduced cost Li-Ion (RED-LION) project is to demonstrate the application of new Li-Ion cell chemistry in a hybrid vehicle battery with an estimated production cost of one-third that of conventional battery technologies and around half the weight. If successful, this breakthrough technology could make hybrid and electric vehicles commercially more attractive and hence make a significant impact on global CO2 emissions."

(Via Ricardo, Inc Press Release)