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Title: The Powerhouse

Subtitle: Inside the Invention of a Battery to Save the World

Author: Steve LeVine

Narrator: Mike Chamberlain

Format: Unabridged

Length: 10 hrs and 48 mins

Language: English

Release date: 02-05-15

Publisher: Penguin Audio

Ratings: 4 of 5 out of 115 votes

Genres: Science & Technology, Technology

Publisher's Summary:

A Soul of the New Machine for our time, a gripping account of invention, commerce, and duplicity in the age of technology

A worldwide race is on to perfect the next engine of economic growth, the advanced lithium-ion battery. It will power the electric car, relieve global warming, and catapult the winner into a new era of economic and political mastery. Can the United States win?

Steve LeVine was granted unprecedented access to a secret federal laboratory outside Chicago, where a group of geniuses is trying to solve this next monumental task of physics. But these scientists - almost all foreign born - are not alone. With so much at stake, researchers in Japan, South Korea, and China are in the same pursuit. The drama intensifies when a Silicon Valley start-up licenses the federal laboratory's signature invention with the aim of a blockbuster sale to the world's biggest carmakers.

The Powerhouse is a real-time, two-year thrilling account of big invention, big commercialization, and big deception. It exposes the layers of competition and ambition, aspiration and disappointment behind this great turning point in the history of technology.

Members Reviews:

Nitty Gritty Battery Story

This is a very detailed story of the scientists, car companies, government programs, and venture capitalists, involved in the development of the battery of the future. This tries to do quite a lot and may be too detailed for many readers. I understand those that feel it was boring. It covers the stories of battery development, the process of vying for a big government projects, the greed and maneuvering of venture capital funded startup companies, and how EVs might affect the environment and the oil industry. Although this was not an easy listen, I learned a lot and enjoyed the various storylines. Overall I was very satisfied with this book. The one thing was unsatisfying is the story ends abruptly with the battery of the future still in flux. The narration was very good, dealing with the technical detail very well.

Great if this is a topic of interest

Great mix of science and narrative, so long as you are interested in battery technology. Not much discussion of Elon Musk or Tesla at all, in case that is a reason you're considering this book.

Informative

An informative look at the challenges, pitfalls and potential rewards that comprise the effort to develop a better battery.

Spectacular!

It is amazing how LeVine has made the story of scientific development of a stationary chemical technology so freaking interesting! I am an energy enthusiast in college reading books to get a better idea of the industry. this book just got me caught up - at least in the American perspective - on the battery race, which is a critical part of our energy future. It is gripping and informative at the same time. Given that you're not a battery guy yourself, it is sure to her in the relevant battery chemistries currently under development. I also loved the behavioural nuances and Levine's a cute observationa about the characters' actions surely give much to learn from. Finally, I guarantee you that the names in the book will become heroes in you're mind so definitely go Google them to humanize them and find out all about the race since the book.

The powerhouse failed

This book promises the description of a battery powerhouse, but fails to deliver.