COST ANALYSIS OF 50 KWH ZINC--CHLORINE BATTERIES FOR MOBILE APPLICATIONS

The costs comprising the projected selling price of a 50-kWh zinc--chlorine battery for mobile applications were analyzed. This analysis is predicated on a battery whose engineering and design specifications are well crystallized. Such a design has been proposed and a process plan conceived. This, in turn, led to a simulated manufacturing plan. This analysis showed that no critical resources or complex manufacturing operations are required. The projected cost presumes a production level of 25,000 batteries per year. In that context, a selling price was estimated, in mid-1977 dollars, to be $1645 per battery or $33/kWh. This price excludes the battery charger, for which an added $400 ($8/kWh) is considered reasonable.