Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratories' Advanced Energy Technologies Department conducts research focusing on converting and storing energy (batteries and fuel cells), processes to reduce the environmental impacts of energy technologies (for example, reducing the emissions of air pollutants), advanced materials to make energy use more efficient, and biological methods of environmental remediation. Their expertise ranges from electrochemistry to materials science, biology and computer science.

A major goal of the Division's electrochemistry research is to develop electrochemical power sources suitable for applications in electric and hybrid electric vehicles. Battery systems are expensive and don't hold enough electric charge to drive a vehicle the same distance as a comparable gasoline-powered automobile.

Their research will lead to the development of low-cost, rechargeable, advanced electrochemical batteries with the high-performance potential to compete with the combustion engine. Current work focuses on lithium-polymer and lithium-ion batteries.

Their stated objective is to: synthesize and evaluate alternative density, safety, and stability. Support cell development and structural characterization of cell components impedance rise in composite electrodes.

Their main-drive is the Batteries for Advanced Transportation Technologies (BATT) program.

The six primary BATT Program task areas are: (1) Cell Development, (2) Anodes, (3) Electrolytes, (4) Cathodes, (5) Diagnostics, and (6) Modeling. Task 1 comprises cell fabrication, testing and characterization , Tasks 2-4 are aimed at identifying new materials, and Tasks 5-6 support all BATT Program work.

Their effort may lead to a most effiecent battery capble of replacing the combustion engine.

Source: http://eetd.lbl.gov/AET.html