I think this would be really cool and great for FRC teams that are worried about the dangers of traditional Lead-Acid batteries during spills or our frustration with being limited to Lead-Acid only batteries. I understand the concerns about Li-On and similar, but this seems like a potential solution. Especially if they are truly capable of matching a lead acids power production.
Just think.
“Oh no the robot battery spilled. Go get some paper towel.”
As the article puts it
Another advantage is that water batteries eliminate the risk of fires commonly associated with lithium-ion batteries. According to the Australian Council of Recycling, lithium-ion batteries cause at least three fires in recycling streams every day.
Water batteries are also cheaper. Because they do not require complex manufacturing processes and the materials cost less, they can be produced for a third of the price of lithium-ion batteries, Ma said.
Not sure if they are cheaper than lead acids but they are cheaper than LiPos. Interested to see what everyone else thinks. Any cost savings would be great and let teams get more fresh batteries each year for the same cost
But as the technology improves over the next decade or longer, he believes they could eventually challenge lithium-ion batteries.
This still seems many many years out from something we would see and be able to use. But I’m excited for the possibilities
