GARY HANINGTON
Have you seen the new power tools lately? They all boast their voltage ratings in big letters. 60 volts! 50 volts! By next year there will be 100 volt batteries.One thing is certain, all portable drills, sanders, saws, even leaf blowers use lithium-ion batteries nowadays. I just bought a battery operated edger for the sidewalk. The last one was destroyed when the person using it ran over the electrical cord in their haste to finish the job as fast as they could. The new one takes a lithium-ion battery. I wonder what they’ll break next.Because all of these new battery-operated power tools use lithium we should take a look at the science of lithium cells starting with the element and finish with new improvements just out from Argonne National Laboratory.The metal lithium was discovered in 1817 by Swedish scientist Johan Arfwedson…
Professor Hanington’s Speaking of Science: New, improved lithium ion batteries coming (Part 1) | Lifestyles
