How much nickel will these things need?

[JerrySpringer]

Don't turn in those nickels yet:

http://futureoftech.msnbc.msn.com/_news ... -real-fuel

[ZenOps]

Probably quite a ways off.

More than likely - there will be another nickel shortage because of electric car batteries.

http://www.hybridcars.com/economics/ele ... 27915.html

http://www.hybridcars.com/hybrid-car-battery

Usually about 100 pounds of nickel is used. Lithium is mostly experimental, because of its unfortunate tendency to explode with life threatening force when used in extreme temperatures like Canada or Texas and with energies needed to propel a car instead of just power a small laptop)

If they become popular - you will start to see 300 pound nickel luxury cars with minimal air conditioning and/or heating (extremely important in Canada in a -30 degree winter, or Texas in a 40+ degree summer) As is now, electric cars are mostly limited by the price of the nickel in the battery to temperate zones like California.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Range_anxiety And no - you do not want to be using car battery electricity for heat or air conditioning unless you spend good money for a *huge* battery.

Never forget: At a price of $23/pound (which is downright cheap IMO) a 1 cubic meter block of nickel is over $400,000.