Priceless: Star Trek isn't real life!

[danaeris]

So, I've been reading about Toshiba's new lithium-ion battery, which can recharge to 80% capacity in just one minute, full capacity in a few minutes (60 times faster than existing lithium-ion batteries), loses only 1% of capacity after 1000 cycles (also way better than existing batteries), and functions well anywhere between -40 and 25 degrees centigrade (80% at the former, 100% at the latter). I'm sure that there must be something that isn't wonderful futuristic happiness and joy about this, but nothing so far stands out as clearly the suck (other than not being released until 2006, and then only for industrial and automotive use).

However, in reading some reader comments on a blog, I ran across this gem:
First person:
Were a 60 watt-hour battery to short and discharge in a few milliseconds you'll be digging shrapnel out of the bystanders...

Second person:
That is so true. I watched a Star Trek episode where some aliens boarded USS Voyager and deliberately overloaded the EPS power relays, the resulting explosion was similar in yield to a Mark VI photon torpedo.

Another time, Tuvok rewired a hand-phaser to "cause an accident", and the self-discharge was powerful enough to kill a holo-matrix version of Cesca.

Because if Star Trek says it, it must be true! Is it possible this guy is joking?

EDIT: To clarify, I'm not at all arguing with the concern over the battery exploding; that's a well established danger of modern batteries. I thought the quote was self explanatory, but I guess not. What I WAS commenting on was that this guy is using events on Star Trek episodes to support an argument. No matter how correct the argument is, that's just wrong. Its disturbingly geeky in the dumb way.

Comments

[phantomdancer.livejournal.com]

That much power discharging in a few milliseconds would be pretty disastrous. It would probably total the car. Most likely however the batteries would fail in a less disastrous way, think worst case the batteries overloading and melting down, or causing a fire. Still bad, but no shrapnel.

[pyat.livejournal.com]

Whether he's kidding or not, he's really cool. :)

[danaeris.livejournal.com]

um, you hurt my head. Are YOU joking?

[pyat.livejournal.com]

*looks shifty*

Yes... yes... joking. Of course. What a big nerd that fellow is.

*hides rubber Spock ears*

[rocketgeek.livejournal.com]

hrm... 216 kJ (60 watt-hours in more congenial units) is the equivalent of several tens of grams of high explosive. So the concern is not entirely misplaced.

[danaeris.livejournal.com]

Just in case you were confused, see edit above re: my take on it.

[etherlad.livejournal.com]

Yes, it's entirely possible he was joking. I'd totally write a post like that, although throw more technobabble in. Type II hand-phaser, fr'ex. (:

Joking or not, he certainly knows his Trek. Aside from "Cesca," which should be "Seska."

[jadia.livejournal.com]

So what's the advance that lets Toshiba make such a huge improvement?

[aberrantvirtue.livejournal.com]

I know it annoys you, but it has to be said...

ETA has actually become recognized shorthand for Edited To Add.

I even have an etiquette book that says it's okay.

Anyway. Other than that, *hugs*

[tunape.livejournal.com]

hmm... from what I can remember of Sadoway's 3.091 course, I would be concerned if that much energy transferred in or out of a battery very quickly. Batteries work by having a gradient that moves energy(electrons) from one end to the other end. Electrons on the outter shell get dislodged and move an area of lower gradient. By controlling the rate at which they move, or slowing it down, you can use their energy to do stuff(eg. turn on a light bulb, make a heating element red hot, etc...).

To recharge, you simply attach another source which has higher gradient than the discharged battery. The gradient to flow is caused by placing two different types of cathods(eg. copper and zinc).

Some disadvantages of the battery, however, may be heat and the cost of the materials. Also, how big would the thing be? When you first plug it in to recharge, would you want a sudden surge in your electricity? And finally, what is the power of the thing? 9V at 10mA won't do anything and is not all that impressive(think those mini RC cars).

fyi

[vokzal.livejournal.com]

Stay away from exploding magnets too.

[videomaker.livejournal.com]

Too much time on holodeck! Engage reality!

Frankly, this person weakens the reception of any valid points of his/her argument. Note, that the in the discussion about your post, people used science to validate their views, a much more effective tool in persuading people. If it were a joke on the posters part, then the use of emoticons would help relay that.