Battery research breakthrough Magnesium batteries may replace lithium batteries

Toyota North American Research Institute announced Wednesday that engineers have found ways to make batteries out of magnesium, and that almost all of the mobile phones, computers and other devices that are indispensable to people's lives are lithium batteries
.
The agency said: "Magnesium metal has long been considered a safer and more energy-dense alternative
to current lithium battery technology.
The problem in the current research is how to extract energy
from magnesium metal.
The report credits Toyota's chief scientist and chemical engineer Rana Mohtadi for "discovering ways to make magnesium batteries
.
"

Lithium has certain problems because it can easily catch fire, which is a big disappointment for some electric and hybrid car owners and computer users
.
And the low-battery Didi reminder sound can sometimes scare mobile phone users
.

Lithium is the lightest of all metals, and in its natural state it is less hard, and it can be cut effortlessly with a small knife that cuts butter
.
Magnesium is heavier and therefore able to store more electricity
.

But it's too early to be excited about battery users, as it could take another 20 years of research and development
before magnesium batteries hit the market.