Lithium iron batteries were developed in the late seventies and early eighties. The first work on it that really started making progress is done at x on in the 19 70s. Lithi iron was used to make cam quarters, remember those? And then you start to see the same battery being used in lap tops,. Because oversea you can pack more energy into a smaller space. Who can have a smaller, lighter laptop?
After a huge false start, electric cars are finally about to flourish. We speak with a technology historian about this all-too-common story, and what it means for innovation everywhere.