RE:RE:RE:Graphite no longer neededThe main challenge has been silicon’s tendency to expand as it charges and discharges. “The volume changes almost 300 percent if you’re doing it to its maximum capacity,” says Brian Cunningham, a technology development manager with the U.S. Department of Energy, “and that creates a lot of mechanical strain on the entire structure,” making it unlikely the battery could survive a commercial vehicle’s requisite charge-discharge cycles.
Translation: Silicon batteries for automobiles wont be ready for at least another 7-10 yrs.