Nickel-Metal Hydride Batteries For ZEV-Range Hybrid Electric Vehicles

Hybrid electric vehicles with significant all-electric range provide a promising alternative to zero emission vehicles (ZEVs) without the problem of the limited range of electric vehicles. Ovonic nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) batteries feature a combination of high power and energy density ideal for ZEV-range hybrid electric vehicles. A series of high-power, highenergy batteries ranging in size from 20 Ah to 90 Ah are available for this application. The specific power exceeds 500 W/kg and the specific energy approaches 70 Wh/kg. These batteries have been integrated into a series of charge-depletion hybrid vehicles, including a compact sedan, mid-size sedan, and a large sport-utility vehicle, each demonstrating a significant ZEV-range. A Toyota Prius hybrid vehicle retrofitted with 20 Ah Ovonic batteries demonstrated an equivalent ZEV range of 25 miles. A Mercury Sable, converted to a charge-depletion hybrid by the University of California at Davis (UCD), demonstrated a ZEV range of 60 miles with 60 Ah Ovonic batteries. A Chevrolet Suburban, converted by UCD into a charge-depletion hybrid vehicle powered by 90 Ah Ovonic batteries, provided a ZEV range of over 60 miles.