Hollow Battery Technology?

IndyArcher · August 9, 2016, 4:46pm

Saw this on a mac forum this morning regarding Apple’s pursuit of energy options for it’s ‘secret’ electric car that is reported to be in design. Is this a new development in battery technology? Any implications for flashlight use?

Korean site ETNews now reports that a small Korean battery company, which comprises 20 or so employees described as “expert technologists in batteries,” has been tapped to co-develop batteries for the so-called Apple Car.

Apple is planning to develop its own independent batteries for electric vehicles based on the Korean company’s patented hollow battery technology, according to the report. They are described as cylindrical lithium-ion secondary batteries with a thickness of two fingers and uniquely hollow centers.

Because batteries create most heat from the center due to chemical reactions, this company has created batteries where air flow and cooling are smooth in the center of batteries and this can minimize installation of separate cooling device or a device that prevents over-heating. They are also advantageous in high output. By utilizing this space, it is easy to design parallel connection, which is to expand battery capacity, in these batteries.

EasyB · August 9, 2016, 5:07pm

Interesting. My two fingers have about 36mm width.

Of course, depending on the size of the hollow core, this will hurt the volumetric energy density. Hard to say how much this will help with heat, and affect overall battery pack cost and energy density.

I don’t see this being advantageous for flashlights, both because there is no airflow inside the battery compartment, and battery temperature is not often the limiting factor for high power lights.