James Dyson Vacuums Up Battery Opportunities

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James Dyson is still best known for inventing the dual cyclone bag-less vacuum cleaner in 1983. Since then he has produced several more good ideas, including a machine that dries hands with a blast of cold air. More recently, the intrepid inventor has been pumping money into robotic research and artificial intelligence.

We Can Do It When We Are Ready, James Dyson Says

james dyson
Dyson Airblade: Pontificake: Public Domain

James Dyson has become incredibly wealthy despite humble beginnings. His company of over 4,500 scientists and engineers is working on around 40 university research programs.

He told the Daily Telegraph newspaper, “We’re looking at more non-domestic products but we are not rushing to do lots of different things. We are a private company so we can do it when we are ready.” Right now, James is eyeing the electric car battery business. He seems likely to vacuum up a healthy chunk of the action.

Here’s $3.5 Billion To Drive from Cornwall to Scotland

ja,es dyson
James Dyson: Royal Society: CC 4.0

It’s approximately 550 miles from the southwest corner of Britain to Edinburgh in Scotland. James Dyson threw the $3.5 Billion into the ring to develop a British battery that can stay the distance.

This will be a solid-state design using solid electrodes and solid electrolyte. The challenge is finding material that is sufficiently conductive to outpace Toyota by 2020. If James Dyson can solve this challenge, he will have an electric car battery that charges faster and lasts longer. Moreover, it will be non-flammable and unable to catch fire.

John Goodenough and Elon Musk Are Still in the Race

A huge amount of money is riding in the race to produce an electric car battery that functionally outperforms gasoline. John Goodenough has found a way to get a glass electrolyte to work. Meanwhile rumor has it Elon Musk is cooking up new lithium technology that could put him ahead in the game. James Dyson needs to keep one eye over his shoulder.

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Preview Image: BMW i8 Electric Car Motor

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About Author

I have been writing about batteries and energy storage for more than ten years, and have published over 4,000 articles on this website. During that time, I have researched developments across lead-acid, lithium-ion, sodium-ion, flow batteries, and emerging energy-storage technologies. My goal is to explain complex battery concepts in clear, practical language that anyone can understand. My writing career began unexpectedly after leaving the corporate world. What started as a search for a new direction gradually became a fascination with batteries, renewable energy, and the science that powers modern life. Writing may not have made me wealthy, but it has given me the opportunity to explore an industry that continues to evolve in remarkable ways.

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