Wait, Sharyan . . . "investigate what I just wrote"? This is sort of like me saying that Bigfoot regularly strolls through my back yard every night, but I need someone else to prove it.

And, gorr, I reckon there are several billion cell phones and computers out there along with tens of thousand OEM EVs with lithium batteries. That hardly a repudiation of modern battery technology. When you find a hydrogen powered tablet computer - much less a car - powered by hydrogen that isn't a hopelessly expensive prototype, please let me know.

ideally the interest rate from the DOE is low enough that it's still profitable to make the batteries in the US.

I also agree with Bill, except for the SUV silliness. And I am going to abstain from my rant about industry propagandists like "Automotive News" and how many of us could care less about what corn sugar-fed Americans feel entitled to. Nissan would have done better to deal with customers who suffered as a result of the thermal management issue before it blew up in their faces. Instead of playing the part of the out-of-touch international corporation, they should have jumped all over it with smiles on their faces (within reason, of course). As a Leaf owner, I don't care about the press releases or grand openings. What I care about is whether or not my Leaf is going to effectively perform the duties of a $30K car over the lifespan of a comparable ICE model. If this battery plant means that Nissan will have the batteries to bring my car back up to power once the current module depletes, that is a good thing. One way or another, Nissan had better get the information out there if this is going to be an option- and at what price sooner than later would be good too. EV enthusiasts are watching.

NiMH is good solid technology, Smiling, and I'm the happy owner of about 60 AA and AAA cells in devices throughout my house with that rechargeable battery chemistry (mostly the low-self-discharge Sanyo Eneloops, with a few comparable Ray-O-Vacs and Energizers thrown in for good measure.) We haven't bought any single-use disposable batteries in these size classes for several years now.

The recently deceased Stan Ovshinsky is thanked every time I pop a couple of Eneloops in the charger for a few hours and then put them into a device - or put them on the shelf for several months before installing them in a device - and use them without any more concern or worry than I would with the old disposable alkaline variety . . . or the earlier generation NiMH consumer batteries, which would self-discharge a day or two after charging.

Today's lithium batteries are probably on par, chronologically speaking, with the earliest NiMHs. The technology is very good and capable of greater things in the future, as RedMapleLeaf observes, but not quite perfected just yet.

Liquid electrolyte cell construction is probably the biggest crutch with current generation lithium cells. These fragile foil baggie cells have to be protected from puncture within harder metal can packs (see photos in this article) and those, in turn, have to be cooled somehow, as the contained liquid electrolyte cells operate within a relatively narrow temperature range, necessitating heavy and complex thermal management. The more comprehensive liquid versions (Tesla, Chevy Volt) do the job. But they add weight, complexity and expense. Circulated air or passive thermal management (Nissan) looks to be lighter, simpler and cheaper. As the Arizona Leaf debacle has demonstrated, though, it may not be enough to protect the fragile nature of liquid electrolyte cells.

We're going to see incremental improvements in liquid electrolyte cells in the near term. A123 (or whoever will end up owning it) promises their EXT cells to be more reliable over a wider temperature range and the up-and-coming Envia declares large advances in energy density over anything that is now out there. But, if I'm not mistaken, it's all stilled tied to liquid electrolyte construction.

A couple weeks ago - on two separate occasions, if memory serves - I posted this YouTube link onto discussion threads here, showing a tiny (around 1mAh) solid electrolyte - or "solid state" - battery surviving abuse that would have killed one of today's mainstream lithium cells and, in fact, standing up to one test that would have reduced a liquid electrolyte cell to fire and/or toxic fuming. The significance of it got lost, I think, amongst election anxiety that we were going back and forth with then. But it's worth another look . . .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdAgKDKK6ZY

Now, granted, Infinite Power Solutions makes tiny batteries . . . and I think that's the size class they want to be pursing exclusively. They're into low voltage energy harvesting and putting batteries like this into credit-card-sized devices. The one in the video probably wouldn't keep your cell phone going for more than a couple of calls. But I'm amazed that a hole could be bored through it with a paper punch and then have it immersed into a cup of water. All it did was bubble almost invisibly . . . no fire, smoke or explosions. I subsequently found out that these can be purchased singularly from a retail vendor (Digi-Key) and I'm sure I'll do so for some upcoming minimalist electric model airplane projects, where I was previously using small supercapacitors with limited success.

But who is scaling up solid state electrolyte lithium batteries for EV use? Well, I was please to find that several companies are. Here's an online MIT Technology Review page that I stumbled upon the other days, profiling what a company called Sakti3 is doing . . .

http://www2.technologyreview.com/article/423685/solid-state-batteries/

Also mentioned there is that a number of others are also pursuing solid state battery technology for EV applications. Having spent a few minutes over the weekend visiting the web sites of Sakti3, Planar Energy and Seeo, I noted sparsely-appointed online presences . . . no wholesale or retail products yet displayed by any of them. But I predict we'll be hearing more these companies - and others like them - down the road. If it's not going to be the next big thing coming up in the way of EV batteries, solid state electrolyte cells will be the big thing coming up after the big next thing.

@RedMapleLeaf

I believe there is a parking lot next to the Yorkdale plaza (in North York). IF there was a 110 volt plug somewhere there it would be at least a little help. For some reason (I have my guestimates but thats later), my Roadster is horrible at 110, but it may be just enough.

@Bill Howland: "running on Sparks"

I love it! Mind if I use that?

@Bill Howland,

You could drive your Tesla to Syracuse and try out the ChargePoint network we have. Just be prepared to fork over $2.40/hr for the privilege.

@Bill Howland,
Best of luck to you. You're truly a pioneer.
If it were summer, I'd suggest you look for RV parks but they're mostly closed during the winter in upstate NY.
I don't know that the Roadster has a defect. It was out before J1772 was finalized.

@Bill Howland,

I have charged my Leaf, and have seen them work with Volts and PiPs as well. I have never seen a Tesla using one, though.

You don't have to apply for a special Zigby card, you can use any valid credit card. Of course, if it doesn't work, you'll probably have a tough time getting home again. I'd offer you use of my EVSE, but it's a Voltec unit which you said doesn't work. I always have a 120V outlet available...

Good luck on your Toronto trip!

@Bill Howland,

I wouldn't mind a Tesla in my driveway for 2 days, but you might not want to be stuck in Syracuse ;)

Yup, it's the 15A coily cord thing. They are only selling to Volt owners. I "cheated" and bought one through my friend, who does own a Volt. Each owner is allowed to purchase up to 3 of them, and he only needed 1.