Surface-mediated cell-powered vehicles and methods of operating same

A method of operating a vehicle powered by a surface-mediated cell-based power source, comprising a vehicle frame, at least a wheel supporting said frame or a propeller connected to said frame, a drive unit connected to said wheel or propeller, and a power source electrically connected to said drive unit and supplying power thereto, wherein said power source contains at least a surface-mediated cell (SMC), which is a rechargeable cell that operates by reversibly storing lithium ions on surfaces of a cathode active material, wherein said surface-mediated cell comprises:

• (a) a positive electrode (cathode) comprising a porous cathode current collector and/or a cathode active material having a surface area to capture or store lithium thereon;
• (b) a negative electrode (anode) comprising an anode current collector only or comprising an anode current collector and an anode active material having a surface area to capture or store lithium thereon;
• (c) a porous separator disposed between the cathode and the anode;
• and (d) a lithium-containing electrolyte in physical contact with the anode and the cathode, wherein the anode active material and/or the cathode active material has a specific surface area of no less than 100 m2/g which is in direct physical contact with the electrolyte to receive lithium ions therefrom or to provide lithium ions thereto and wherein an operation of said surface-mediated cell does not involve metal sulfide, said method including operating said surface-mediated cell-based power source to supply power to said drive unit for driving said wheel or propeller that drives a motion of said vehicle, or storing electric energy converted from kinetic energy or braking energy of said vehicle into said power source.

A power-assisted vehicle comprising a vehicle frame, at least a wheel supporting said frame, a drive unit connected to said wheel, and a power source electrically connected to said drive unit and supplying power thereto, a kinetic energy-capturing device that converts captured kinetic energy to electric energy that recharges said power source, wherein said power source contains at least a surface-mediated cell (SMC) wherein said surface-mediated cell comprises:

• (a) a positive electrode (cathode) comprising a porous cathode current collector and/or a cathode active material having a surface area to capture or store lithium thereon;
• (b) a negative electrode (anode) comprising an anode current collector only or comprising an anode current collector and an anode active material having a surface area to capture or store lithium thereon;
• (c) a porous separator disposed between the cathode and the anode;
• and (d) a lithium-containing electrolyte in physical contact with the anode and the cathode, wherein the anode active material and/or the cathode active material has a specific surface area of no less than 100 m2/g which is in direct physical contact with the electrolyte to receive lithium ions therefrom or to provide lithium ions thereto and wherein an operation of said surface-mediated cell does not involve metal sulfide.