Hacker Newsnew | past | comments | ask | show | jobs | submitlogin

In a decade batteries should cost quite a bit less than they do now.


And why would that be? Are raw materials getting cheaper?

If you're banking on battery technology improving, don't. Battery tech marches very slowly.


Well, from the horse's mouth but Musk would disagree:

http://takingpitches.com/2012/09/22/elon-musk-the-role-of-an...

He makes it sound as though the raw material cost is not the problem.

Also, Deutsche Bank in Dec 2010:

http://bioage.typepad.com/files/1223fm-05.pdf

Relevant bit:

"Based on discussions with industry experts and several automakers, the DB Auto team has lowered its advanced lithium ion battery cost projection by about 30% for 2012. Current prices have fallen from $650/kWh+ in 2009 to about $450/kWh now, and DB’s forecast is the price to fall at about a 7.5% CAGR from 2012 through 2020 to about $250/kWh."

And lots others on Google. I don't know enough about it to judge who is credible but I do believe that laptop batteries don't cost as much as they used to. It's not like Moore's Law, but I think prices have been falling pretty steadily.




Guidelines | FAQ | Lists | API | Security | Legal | Apply to YC | Contact

Search: