Long Hard Road: The Lithium-Ion Battery and the Electric Car

Long Hard Road: The Lithium-Ion Battery and the Electric Car is a book that chronicles the development of the lithium-ion battery, from its origins in academic labs to its transition to automotive power. It reveals the Japanese corporate culture that turned the lithium-ion chemistry into a commercial product and the intense race between two companies to develop a suitable anode. It also shows how lithium-ion solved the problems of earlier battery chemistries and transformed the electric car into a viable competitor.

Format: Hardback
Length: 328 pages
Publication date: 15 September 2022
Publisher: Purdue University Press

Long Hard Road: The Lithium-Ion Battery and the Electric Car delves into the origins, evolution, and transformative impact of the lithium-ion battery on automotive power. This comprehensive book offers an in-depth exploration of the battery's journey, from its humble beginnings in academic labs worldwide to its eventual emergence as the future of automotive propulsion. It chronicles the intricate development of the lithium-ion battery, from its early years of indifference and skepticism from the industry to its subsequent flourishing in Japan, where it found applications in camcorders, laptops, and cell phones.

This groundbreaking work is the first to provide a glimpse into the Japanese corporate culture that played a pivotal role in transforming lithium-ion chemistry into a commercially successful product. It sheds light on the intense competition between Asahi Chemical and Sony Corporation, as they raced to develop a suitable anode for the battery. Furthermore, it delves into the unique challenges faced by one Japanese manufacturer, which necessitated the construction of its first preproduction cells in a converted truck garage in Boston, Massachusetts.

Building upon this historical foundation, Long Hard Road takes readers on a journey into the auto industry, showcasing how lithium-ion batteries addressed the limitations of previous battery chemistries and revolutionized the electric car as a viable competitor. It begins with the Henry Ford and Thomas Edison electric car of 1914 and traces a long history of automotive failures. However, it also highlights the pivotal role played by AC Propulsion, a small California car converter, which laid the groundwork for a revolutionary shift by packing its vehicles with thousands of tiny lithium-ion cells.

The book then takes readers into the corporate boardrooms of Detroit, where mainstream automakers finally embraced lithium-ion technology. It unravels the complex decision-making processes and the factors that influenced their adoption of this breakthrough battery chemistry.

What sets Long Hard Road apart is its unique perspective on the lithium-ion tale. It reveals that the battery chemistry was not the result of a single inventor or the vision of just three Nobel Prize winners. Rather, it emerged as the culmination of dozens of scientific breakthroughs and collaborations across the globe. This comprehensive account provides a deep understanding of the complex scientific, technological, and economic factors that shaped the lithium-ion battery's journey and its profound impact on the automotive industry.

In conclusion, Long Hard Road: The Lithium-Ion Battery and the Electric Car is a must-read for anyone interested in the history, development, and future of automotive power. It offers a captivating and informative journey into the world of batteries, shedding light on the pivotal role played by the lithium-ion battery in shaping the automotive industry's transition towards sustainable and eco-friendly transportation.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781612497624