The Lithium–air battery article in Wikipedia is unusually technical. The technology is futuristic. One type that is being worked on uses a genetically modified virus to modify nanowires in the positive electrode. That is a lot more high tech than mixing in lamp black to increase conductivity.
An article I read elsewhere expressed the opinion that all-electric cars will not be popular until they have about an 800 mile range, because that is about how far people want to drive in one day. It appears that lithium air batteries may be able to do that and lithium ion cells not.
There already are zinc-air batteries, used in hearing aids. Lithium has much higher energy per pound than zinc, comparable to gasoline. The conversion efficiency of lithium is at least three times that of gasoline, so long ranges are possible if all the details work out right.
Below is a lecture I posted and it too says that a minimum of 700 miles per charge will be needed to make all electric cars marketable to a general public.
Li-air, along with Li-sulphur chemistry, is one of the few candidates for next generation chemistry that can potentially provide significantly more energy density than traditional Li-ion. However, that is a big “if” in the quote above. There are critical problems that would prevent the technology from being practically useful, such as Li dendrite formation on the anode and reaction products forming on the cathode that “clog” the electrode and reducing efficiency. These problems have been known about for a long time and are not solved yet. There is a lot of work being done to solve these problems, so I am hopeful.
That may well be the case in North American, but in the UK, and much of Europe, a far smaller range would make a battery powered var viable. At least 100 miles as a second car, for modest commuting, is viable, but in my view 200 miles + fast charge is required for general acceptance, and a reasonable price. At present the cost of lithium cells is prohibitive for the unwashed masses. Elon Musk aims to bring the price of traditional Li-ion cells down dramatically and if he succeeds then battery cars may become commonplace.
However, as I’ve said often before, in the UK the majority of the cost of petrol is tax. Electric would only be competive without tax. So, if we go electric, the government will have to recoup its tax, on toll roads, or miles covered using a GPS meter for example, making electric unviable.
This brings up a bigger issues than electric or petroleum run vehicles, and that is a world population of 7.4 billion. climate change, peak oil, and that is only on a top of a list.
Considering 400k reservations for the model 3 with its at least 215 mile range makes it the most popular car in America i doubt 800 mile range is necessary.
800 mi in one day? 70mph for over 11 hours non stop. Reminds me of Vanishing Point.
This recent article from MIT news is fairly easy to follow and shows some promise.
800 miles before needing recharge batteries is the issue, and not a particular number of hours.
700 to 800 is an interesting number and probably has more to do with electrical vehicles in commerce i.e delivering stock to shops and business’ rather than for Joe Public. I think for the average Brit at least the acceptance point for most would be “would it drive me to the coast for my holiday on one charge”. Which for us is probably at most a distance of around 250 to 350 miles. It’s less than 500 miles from London to Scotland and that’s a journey that few would make by car unless we had to. Personally, I think for the UK and Europe in general 400 miles would be the killer number for sales to go the way manufacturers would like.
I think they use miles as more of a way to show both time and distance before needing recharge.
Charging is a problem due to lack of charging facilities and the time needed to fully charge batteries for motor transport.
800 mile range? Which gasoline car can do this?
Increasing battery capacity alone won’t help. The problem is charging time, and especially the power needed for fast charging.
To recharge a 100kWh battery to 80% in 10 minutes: about 500kW power required (0.5 Megawatts). Connectors and cables must be able to handle this power - let alone the grid and transformer stations.
This is unnecessary, 350 mile range is more then sufficient, drive for hours, recharge at a supercharger while eating breakfast, lunch, dinner or relaxing with a coffee.
+1
Yes, this is a big problem yet to be addressed fully.
Range by mileage before needing recharge is dependent on quantity and quality of charging facilities.
Here in the U.S. the number of gas stations is so very high that few ever need to consider when and how they will need to refuel.
I am not sure if these two parallel tracks of development one battery technology and the other recharging facilities are developing with any planning or coordination.
An idea I have had for a long time but not seen written is leasing the battery and swapping batteries at gas stations. That would be as quick as filling the tank. The battery just has to be made of standard modules that plug and fasten in and out quickly.
I really like the Tesla Roadster. It doesn’t try to be a car for everything. It does what batteries can do well and is expensive enough that those who have one will have a bigger longer range car too.
About range, I used to go backpacking, starting at Tuolumne Meadows, from Los Angeles. That is only 350 miles, but there is no gas station there and it is at 9000 feet elevation.
Electric cars surely aren’t for everyone. Forget to gas your car up and you can remedy the problem almost anywhere. Forget to put your car on the charger and you’ve got a real issue.
Anybody want to join me in designing a portable battery roll-cart, for on the spot charging of cars that ran out of battery? It’s like the equivalent of walking down the street with a gas can because your car ran out of gas on the road away from a gas station. It’s the future of tow-trucks. Get in on this idea while you can!!! 
Tesla obviously has a plan, you can drive coast to coast by supercharging (for free incidentally). Nobody gives you free gasoline, and electric chargers are easier to install then a gas station, so by using gasoline your part of OPEC’s plan
A half hour to get 80% charge is more then adequate, i have done cross country road trips, stopping every 3 hours is the best way to go (this is driving a gas mobile)
Its been done AAA has electric car recahrgers in some key cities, the utilization has been poor
This has also been done, 90 second battery swap for your Tesla, usage was far below expectations, not sure if it still exists, it was a waste of money
There are lots of charging stations near me, grocery stores, target, malls, etc with more going in with new/remodeled stores. Demand is a local issue, you have to demand it to get it. It starts with commuter range vehicles but if the prevailing opinion where you live among community leaders isn’t in favor of it then it won’t be an option. Then you need to convince those leaders or replace them with more intelligent ones who can sense tomorrow instead of reminiscing about 50 years ago. This is an industry begging for leadership and we have the minds and bodies to grab it, all we need is for Detroit or whoever rolls over it to start running with it. If they showed as much gumption now as they did when colluding with big oil to rip up trolley tracks it would be a different story. There didn’t use to be gas stations everywhere either.