H ybrids and electric vehicles of today need heavy battery packs to generate power for their onboard motors, which does degrade the efficiency of the vehicle. Researchers at the Imperial College of London are developing materials that can store and discharge electric current just as a conventional battery does, but also serve as the bodywork of the car. The researchers are working on the idea as a part of a 3.4 million 3-year European Union-funded project that involves car manufacturer Volvo as well. [2]

Researchers have always tried to make them thinner, lighter, and at the same time to increase their capacity. [1]