Originally Posted by Kraeuterbutter

for fast charging batteries..

they are not hear in 5 or 10years..
they are already here for 1 year now !
iam a rc-heli-pilot, and we use this kind of batts for 1 year now..

charging:
i normaly charge with 4C (= 4times the current than the capacity of the battery)
charged this way, the cells are full after around 14-16min

friends are using homebuild charger with up to 10-11C charging current.
they fill the batteries up to 90% of there capacity in 4min 30sec. !

a batterypack for a e-bike (36V, 10Ah) would need about
1680Watt of Power when you want to charge it in 15min
with the looses of the charger (charger-efficience) let us say: less than 2000Watt


2000Watt -> there are hairdryers and vacuum cleaners with that power
so it should work with any 230V/110V supply

i think after a 20+ miles ride a stop of 14min would be ok..
charging only 5min would still be enough to go for some further 10miles

so: the batteries are here, and we use them..
another benefit: they are VERY robust (electrically)
we have managed to get 1000cycles out of this batteries, at high charge-conditions..
at same conditions (but lower charge-current) out
NiMh cells seldom get over 200cycles, more like 100-150cycles
and Lipos also see seldom the 200cycles mark...

at same condition we can make OVER 1000cycles (with an 20% capacity loose) with this A123 Fepo4 cells (tested !!, not only advertisment from manufactor)

so fast charging is not a unfullfilled wish.. its already here and buyable by everyone since 1 year

for lifetime: the manufactor (we are not able to test THAT) says: batterylife/calenderlife:
more than 10years
(batterymanufactor say 4-6years for most NiMh and 2-3years for LiPos)