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Science/Tech See other Science/Tech Articles Title: "Chemical" recharge of batteries The entire market for batteries will hit $60 billion annually in the next few years as more mobile power is needed for everything from tablet computers to electric vehicles. And over the past few months, I've chronicled some of the best technologies and companies operating in the space. But there's always something new when you're dealing with billion-dollar profit implications in a technology market. The search is always on for something better, faster, and stronger. News this week out of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) says a “refuelable” battery is on the horizon...Liquid Flow Battery Not rechargeable, as in plug it in and wait; but refuelable, as in pour in a special liquid (pictured right) that contains cathodes and anodes composed of tiny particles, and you're good to go. That would make “filling up” an electric car the same as today's gasoline cars. Instead of a multi-hour charge time, which is the main resistance to plug-in cars, you'd simply top-off your battery tank. It's a billion-dollar idea. And a company has already been created to bring it to market. 24M has been funded with $16 million in venture capital and federal funding. 24M is a spinoff of A123 Systems (NASDAQ: A123), another MIT-incubated company. Both are the brainchild of Yet-Ming Chiang, Professor of Ceramics at MIT. These are the kinds of ideas you want to know about and invest in early. Another Chiang You Need to Know You may have heard me mention another Chiang who's making waves in the battery world. His name is Henry Chiang, and it's been nearly a year since he unveiled the details about how he was perfecting a new type of battery. Since then, the type of batteries he's working on have been used to power a solar-powered plane for a 24-hour flight. That plane is powered entirely by solar panels that store energy in this new type of battery. It could have flown perpetually, if not for the human pilot on board. One day, entire houses and towns will be powered this way, storing renewable energy in Henry Chiang's batteries to be used as needed. Indeed they've already entered that market — as well as the small electric vehicle market. In the first quarter sales were up 51%. And they aren't expected to slow down anytime soon... Two separate orders totaling 500 units have already been logged since then. Like I said, you don't have to be the inventor to profit from revolutionary advancements like this. You only have to know about them and be the investor. Nick Hodge
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